Notice of British Naturalists. 155 



but of course in the more intricate subjects we can scarcely ex- 

 pect to find him perfect. The plates are numerous, and executed 

 with great fidehty. Those of the Testacea have seldom been 

 surpassed. From his life we may learn that the busiest station 

 does not preclude attention to this study ; and while it relieves 

 and graces narrow circumstances, it adds increased lustre and 

 honor to the highest stations. 



The British Conchologists of this period were Emanuel Men- 

 DEs BA Costa, who published at London, in 1778, a very beauti- 

 fully executed quarto volume under the title of ' Historia natu- 

 7'alis Testaceorutn Brita7inice ; or the British Conchologi/, con- 

 taining the descriptions, and other particulars of the Natural 

 History of Great Britain and Ireland? The plates are very 

 faithful, and are colored. The text is both in French and Eng- 

 lish. His system was peculiar to himself, and has never been 

 adopted. It was in conformity to a system which he had pro- 

 posed shortly before in a thin octavo volume, called ' Elements of 

 Concliology.' His work is still often referred to for the plates. 



The other writer, who is less generally known, is Walker, 

 .who published a volume in 1784, on the intricate subject of the 

 minute British Shells. ' Testacea ininuta rariora? 



Ten years before Pennant's death, in 1788, appears the first 

 edition of Rev. Gilbert White's ' Natural History and Antiqui- 

 ties of Selborne f a work which ever has been, and ever will be, 

 read v/ith pleasure. Born in 1720, at Selborne, a little country 

 village, the surrounding scenery diversified with hills and woods, 

 he passed through the ordinary routine of education ; and in due 

 time became a Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford ; and one of the 

 Senior Proctors of the Univerity. "Beingof, an unambitious 

 temper, and strongly attached to the charms of rural scenery, he 

 early fixed his residence in his native village, where he spent the 

 greater part of his life in literary occupation, and especially of the 

 study of Nature. This he followed with patient assiduity, and a 

 mind ever open to the lessons of piety and benevolence which such 

 a study is so well calculated to afford. Though several occasions 

 offered of settling upon a college living, he could never persuade 

 himself to quit his beloved spot, which was indeed a peculiarly 

 happy situation for an observer. He was much esteemed by a 

 select society of intelligent and worthy friends, to whom he paid 



