PREFACE, 
xiii 
well to reproduce here the " few Biographical Records 
which have been handed down to us by his nephew John ; 
at the same time it may be desirable to add some little 
account of the eminent naturalists as well those to whom 
his letters were addressed^ as those who have furnished a 
worthy supplement to his work in the " Observations and 
Calendar/^ 
BACK VIEW OF THE RESIDENCR, AT SELBORNE, OF 
THE REV. GILBERT WHITE. 
Gilbert White was the eldest son of John White, of 
Selborne, Esq., and of Anne the daughter of Thomas Holt, 
rector of Streatham in Surrey. He was born at Selborne 
-on July 18, 1720 ; and received his school-education at 
Basingstoke, under the Rev. Thomas Warton, vicar of that 
place, and father of those two distinguished literary cha- 
racters. Dr. Joseph Warton, master of Winchester School ; 
and Mr. Thomas Warton, poetry-professor at Oxford. He 
was admitted at Oriel College, Oxford, in December, 
1739, and took his degree of bachelor of arts in June, 
1743. In March, 1744, he was elected fellow of his 
.college. He became master of arts in October, 1746, and 
was admitted one of the senior proctors of the University 
;in April, 1752. Being of an unambitious temper, and 
