X 
PREFACE, 
place in tlie fauna and flora of the disiiict. The lled-deer, 
which once roamed the Forest of Wolmer, and which were 
driven along the vale'^ in a herd of 500 for the amuse- 
ment of Queen Anne (pp. 21-22), have long since become 
extinct. Black game, which abounded much before shoot- 
ing flying became so common (p. 20), though thought 
by Gilbert White to have been exterminated, have yet 
maintained their footing, and are now to be found in not 
inconsiderable numbers. 
Those noble birds the Bustards, which once frequented 
the downs (pp. 143, 156), and which when seen in flocks 
at a distance were thought to resemble Fallow-deer (p. 156, 
note 2), have entirely vanished as denizens of England. 
The Honey-buzzard has deserted Selborne Hanger (p. 130), 
and the Eavcn is extinct on Blackmoor (p. 6) . The 
Chough, which formerly bred on Beachy Head and on all 
the cliflPs of the Sussex coast (p. 117), has long since dis- 
appeared. 
On the other hand, birds which were unknoAvn to Gil- 
bert White, or were possibly overlooked by him, have 
since been met with in the neighbourhood of Selborne ; 
while others, which he regarded as rare, or at least as acci- 
dental visitants to his parish, have since been found to be 
not uncommon there. In the former class may be instanced 
the Cirl bunting (p. 47, note 3) and the Garden warbler 
(p. 59, note) ; in the latter, the Landrail (p. 328) and the 
Teal (p. 177). Woodcocks, which in his day were not sup- 
posed to breed in England (pp. 159, 161), now do so regu- 
larly in Hants and Sussex, to say nothing of other localities. 
In regard to the botany of the district, allusion has 
already been made to the changes which have taken place 
since Whitens day in the aspect of the forcst-land. To this 
may be added that while some few plants of interest have 
been included in the ^' Flora Selborniensis since Gilbert 
White described it, others, as the Toothwort, Lathrcea 
squamaria, and the Marsh Cinquefoil, Comarwn palustre, 
have never since been met with in the neighbourhood. 
Under these circumstances, and having regard to the time 
which has elapsed since any edition of White's ^' Selborne " 
