Lettre de John White à Vignoles, 1771-07-15
Creators: name: White, John
name: White, John
Publisher: name: NAKALA - https://nakala.fr (Huma-Num - CNRS)
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/04ces3204
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2022
Subjects: Histoire naturelle (général)

description: Gibraltar July 15. 1771.

Dear Sir

I wrote in answer to your favor of sept. 20 th. 1770 on the 26th of Oct. &amp; inclosed a list of the most remarkable animals which I had either collected or observed in this part of the world, for the inspection of Mr Séguier &amp; Dr Gouan. Sinc I read Dr Gouan Philosophia Ichthyologica by Mr Lloyd of the Bqth Regt., which has given me much satisfaction, &amp; been exceding serviceable in enabling me to class &amp; ascertain the fishes of these seas with more precision than I was capable of before. I have no advice of whom I should disburse the expence of the book but hope you will be so kind as to give me an oppoturnity of doing it.
I have according to my promise reserved the only specimens I got this year of the Marsch-cok (Upupa Epops) &amp; Bee-bird (Mesops Apiaster) for Mr Séguier. I have also sent two specimens of what I call’d the Winter Martin, which is the Hirundo rupestris of Scopoli. I had remark’d it here some years before Doctor Scopoli observ’d it as a new species in the county of Tyrol. It breeds &amp; resides in the summer on the inland moutains of Andalusia &amp; Grenada; &amp; in winter when those moutains are cover’d with snow, it appears in this town, &amp; the neighbouring shores; it comes regularly in november &amp; departs in march. I have inclosed likewise /[fol 17 v] a female Hirundo Melba Linn. Which seems to be the Hirundo Alpina of Scopoli, tho’ it diffesse much more in size from the Hir. Apus, our common Swift, for when fresh kill’d it wight exactly twice the weight of the common Swift. The male (of which I have no specimen at present) I somewhat larger than the female. Among other favours, I am indebled to you for a very obliging letter from Mr le baron de Faugères at Montpellier, who is so kind as to offer the supply me with specimens of birds &amp; has also requested some from me. It wt certainly give me the greatest pleasure to comply with his request &amp; I have endeavour’d all in my power to procure something worthy his acceptance, but as yet without success. The birds wich he chiefly wants, such as Pelecans, Ostriches, Cranes &amp; x. Tho’ undoubtedly natives of our neightbouring part of African are extremly difficult to be got. I have written to several persons in different parts. But I believe Algiers, Tunis &amp; Tripoli are the most likely to furnish those sorts. We have scarce any communication with those parts, I think he would have a better chance of succeding from Marseille. However, I shall not drop the pursuit &amp; whenever I get any thing of the kind, shall not fail to forward this as he discuts. I have now a Vultur Percnopterus alive who I would glad by send him, but it is promised to a friend in England Tho’ I have seen the Procellaria Pelagica [fol. 18] these l. heights I have never got a Specimen. I once found a Procullaria puffinus Linn. washed ashore in the Ray. I must beg the favor of M. Séguier to give the baron de Faugères an opportunity of seing those birds which I now send if any of them are new or unknow to him. They will come by a ship call’d the Lucen of Spain, Captain Anderson bound from London to Gibraltar, Mahon &amp; Marseille, &amp; I will be disected to the case of Mr Brickbeck agent for the British Levant Company at Marseille. I shall be exceedingly obliged to Mr Séguier for his discretions concerning his method of preserving fishes. Please to Dr Gouan that I have discovered both his new Gen fishesn the Lepidopus &amp; Lepadogaster. The former differs from his description in having a forked tail-fin; it is abundant in may &amp; june &amp; is generally about 6 feet long. The latter I saw once only, very small among shrimps (Cancer Squilla).
I beg my best respects to Mr Séguier, Dr Gouan, &amp; Mr le baron de Faugères, &amp; with many thanks for the honor you have done me in their acquaintance, I am

 Dear Sir, your much obliged &amp; obedient servant.

 J. White

[fol. 18v] To capitaine Vignoles,
Or, in his absence, to Mr Séguier at Nîmes
To the case of Mister Birkbeck
Aux soins de Monsieur Séguier
British agent
A Nîmes
At Marseille
description: Source: [établissement de conservation] Nîmes, Bibliothèque Carré d'Art [cote] ms. 249, fol. 17-18