OF 8BLB0BNE. 
235 
and TipulcB (long-legs) , in their larva, or grub state ; and 
by unnoticed myriads of small shell-less snails, called slugs, 
which, silently and imperceptibly make amazing havock 
in the field and garden. Farmer Young, of JN^orton Farm, 
says that this spring (1777) about four acres of his wheat 
in one field was entirely destroyed by slugs, which swarmed 
on the blades of corn, and devoured it as fast as it sprang. 
These hints we think proper to throw out, in order to 
set the inquisitive and discerning to work. 
A good monography of worms would afford much enter- 
tainment and information at the same time, and would open 
a large and new field in natural history. Worms work most 
in the spring; but by no means lie torpid in the dead 
months — are out every mild night in the winter, as any 
person may be convinced that will take the pains to examine 
his grassplots with a candle ; are hermaphrodites, and very 
prolific* 
LETTER XXXVU 
TO THE HONOUHABLE DAINES BARRINGTON. 
Selborne, Nov. 22, 1777. 
OU cannot but remember that the 26th and 
27th of last March were very hot days ; so 
sultry that everybody complained, and were 
restless under those sensations to which they 
had not been reconciled by gradual ap- 
proaches. 
This sudden summer-like heat was attended by many 
summer coincidences ; for on those two days the thermo- 
meter rose to 66*^ in the shade ; many species of insects 
^ This letter was first printed in " Barrington's Miscellanies" (1781), 
p. 225, "I shall here," he sajs, "subjoin a letter which I have re- 
ceived fi*om that ingenious and observant naturalist, the Rev. Mr. White, 
/ of Selborne, Hampshire." — Ed. 
