THE 
NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBOENE. 
LETTEE I* 
TO THOMAS PENNANT, ESQ. 
The parish, of Selborne lies in tlie extreme eastern corner of the county 
of Hampshire, bordering on the county of Sussex, and not far from the 
county of Surrey ; is about fifty miles south-west of London, in latitude 
fifty-one, and near mid-way between the towns of Alton and Petersfield. 
Being very large and extensive it abuts on twelve parishes, two of which 
are in Sussex, viz., Trotton and Kogate. If you begin from the south. 
* The first series of Mr. White's Letters are addressed to Pennant, and rum 
over a period of several years, during which that gentleman was engaged in 
writing his British Zoology; whether they were originally commenced as real 
letters between friends and naturalists, and were afterwards brought together for 
publication we are unable to say. Some bear the stamp of replies to actual 
letters, but when the idea of publication was fixed upon, it is probable that 
others may have been introduced, and such as this first one written as intro- 
ductory to his parochial history. Mr. White tells us that they are published with 
the view of "laying before the public his idea of a Parochial History, which he 
thinks ought to consist of natural productions and occurrences as well as 
antiquities." (See Advertisement.) It is from such materials and records as these 
that the most complete County Histories might be drawn, aud he remarks that 
such are still wanting in several parts of the kingdom. In 1853 the same 
remark would continue to apply. The parish registers do not always go so far 
back, and have not always at an early period been kept with that exactness which 
White would have recommended, and it is often difficult to trace the origin of 
some old custom or pastime, or the etymology of some of the apparently now 
meaningless names of places, farms, or villages. Accordingly, in this his first 
letter, he at once goes into the necessary, though to some the dry and more 
tedious information, of the boundaries and situation of the parish ; some of its 
statistics, produce, springs, with a slight sketch of its geology and physical 
character. 
This is one of the few letters where the geology of the district is touched 
upon, and in only one of the numerous editions has this been explained .; 
Mr. Bennet is the only editor who seems to have examined it for himself 
and to him, as others have done we must apply for information. This is 
necessary, as upon the explanation depends the proper understanding of several 
