THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE, WITH ITS ANTIQUITIES, NATURALIST'S CALENDAR, &c. BY THE REV. GILBERT WHITE, A.M. A New Edition, WITH NOTES BY EDWARD BLYTH, TO WHICH IS ADDED A DESCRIPTION OF THE VILLAGE AND NEIGHBOURHOOD, THOMAS NELSON & SONS, LONDON, EDINBURGH, AND NEW YORK. MDCCCLVIII. ADVERTISEMENT. THE Author of the following Letters takes 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 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, many of 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 therein 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, they may gratify the curiosity of the antiquary, as well as establish the credit of the history. If the writer should induce any of his readers to pay a more ready attention to the wonders of the Creation, too frequently overlooked as |