FEB FACE, 
xi 
nas appeared, it need be no matter of surprise that steps 
should once more be taken to add, if possible_, to the popu- 
larity of a favourite author, and render his work still more 
instructive by bringing the information which he has im- 
parted so agreeably to a par with the knowledge of the 
present day. 
Of the many editions of this work which have been pub- 
lished since 1789, when the original quarto appeared, it 
will only be necessary to refer to one. 
Messrs. SonTienscliein & Co. having acquired the copy- 
right of what has long been admitted to be the stand ird 
edition of the work, namely, that which was prepared by the 
late Mr. Edward Turner Bennett, a well-known naturalist and 
former secretary to the Zoological Society, an opportunity 
presented itself for thoroughly revising his notes, which, 
written in 1837, had grown somewhat out of date ; while 
the unexpected acquisition of a number of Bewick's en- 
gravings suggested the happy idea of illustrating the worli 
of a favourite author with the designs of an equally renowned 
engraver. With this object in view, they invited my co- 
operation as editor, and I need hardly say that I acceded 
to their request with a considerable degree of pleasure. 
The book is one in which I have long delighted ; the 
neighbourhood of Selborne I know well ; and Gilbert 
White's favourite theme, ornithology, I have made my 
special study for years. The task, therefore, has been 
undertaken con amore ; how far I have succeeded I must 
leave to critics to determine. Suffice it to say that my 
aim has been two-fold; to present the reader with the 
original text as issued by White himself (to which end the 
proof sheets have been carefully collated with the first 
quarto), and to supply such editorial notes only as arc 
necessary to bring the subject matter on a level with our 
information at the present day. 
In this respect I have ventured to differ materially from 
my worthy predecessor, Mr. Bennett, whose notes, though 
generally of interest and value, are occasionally somewhat 
irrelevant and ofttimes unpardonably long. 
Commencing with four pages of notes on the geologicaJ 
