The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne, and a Garden Kalendar

Abstract

IT will be as well to state exactly what is contained in these handsome but rather bulky volumes; the price is high (3l.), and purchasers will be glad to know what they are buying. In the first volume are the letters to Pennant, i.e. the first part of the “Natural History of Selborne,” freely interpolated with bracketed addenda from the originals in the British Museum, and including three or four letters of which White did not make use in preparing his book for the press. Then, pleasantly introduced by Dean Hole, and occupying more than 200 pages, come White's garden diaries from 1751 to 1771; of which a specimen, and enough to give an idea of White's personal activity as a gardener, was printed as an appendix to Bell's edition of the “Selborne” in 1877. The second volume contains the letters to Barrington, also with additions and interpolations from the originals, except in the case of the famous “monographies” of the Hirundinidæ, which were published separately by White in the Philosophical Transactions; the antiquities of Selborne are also here, and at the end we find a bibliography and a useful index, which appear to be sufficiently complete. Each volume is profusely illustrated. Mr. Keulemanns' drawings of birds are familiar and welcome; we have also a large number of fancy sketches by Mr. E. Sullivan, in most of which an imaginary Gilbert White is a prominent figure. Mr. Herbert Railton's head and tail-pieces are, for the most part, delicate and attractive. As regards the notes, Dr. Sharpe's name is, of course, a sufficient guarantee of the soundness of those on birds, and the only fault to be found with them is that they are occasionally a little wanting in succinctness and self-repression. Several of Dr. Sharpe's colleagues at the British Museum have provided him with useful notes relating to their departments of natural history, and a judicious selection has been made from the notes of previous editors, especially Bell and Harting.

The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne, and a Garden Kalendar.

By the Rev. Gilbert White M.A. R. Bowdler Sharpe Two vols. (London: S. T. Freemantle, 1900.)