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THE

NATURAL HISTORY OF

SELBORNE

AND

The Naturalist's Calendar

BY THE REV. GILBERT WHITE, A.M

A NEW EDITION

EDITED, WITH NOTES, BY

G. CHRISTOPHER DAVIES
Author of "The 'Swan' and Her Crew," etc., etc

LONDON

GIBBINGS AND COMPANY, LIMITED

18 BURY STREET W.C

1895

NH577.1.30.5

KF 99170

THE SELWOOD

HARVARD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

PRINTING

LONDO

ADVERTISEMENT TO ORIGINAL EDITION.

HE Author of the following Letters takes the

THE

liberty, with all proper deference, of laying before the public his idea of parochial history, which, he thinks, ought to consist of natural productions and occurrences as well as antiquities. He is also of opinion that if stationary men would pay some attention to the districts on which they reside, and would publish their thoughts respecting the objects that surround them, from such materials might be drawn the most complete countyhistories, which are still wanting in several parts of this kingdom, and in particular in the county of Southampton.

And here he seizes the first opportunity, though a late one, of returning his most grateful acknowledgments to the reverend the President and the reverend and worthy the Fellows of Magdalen College in the University of Oxford, for their liberal behaviour in permitting their archives to be searched by a member of

their own society, so far as the evidences thercin contained might respect the parish and priory of Selborne. To that gentleman also, and his assistant. whose labours and attention could only be equalled by the very kind manner in which they were bestowed, many and great obligations are also due.

Of the authenticity of the documents above-mentioned there can be no doubt, since they consist of the identical deeds and records that were removed to the College from the Priory at the time of its dissolution; and, being carefully copied on the spot, may be depended on as genuine; and, never having been made public before, may gratify the curiosity of the antiquary, as well as establish the credit of the history.

If the writer should at all appear to have induced any of his readers to pay a more ready attention to the wonders of the Creation, too frequently overlooked as common occurrences; or if he should by any means, through his researches, have lent a helping hand towards the enlargement of the boundaries of historical and topographical knowledge; or if he should have thrown some small light upon ancient customs and manners, and especially on those that were monastic; his purpose will be fully answered. But if he should not have been successful in any of these his intentions, yet there remains this consolation behind-that these his pursuits, by

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