Dear Sir,

I sent you by the return of the Alton waggon last week such birds of my last cargoes as you had not seen before: some of which, I think, will not displease you; & of others I shall beg your friendly information, not being able to ascertain them, especially the larks, & the motacillæ. You will, I hope, also give me your opinion of the last cargo: & especially of the white-rumped bird, & the duck; the former of which, I trust, is a Turdus¹, & a rare bird, & perhaps a nondescript; & as to the letter I should be pleased to know whether it be the red-breasted shoveler of the Brit:Zool: or not.

My present cargo is as follows:

Phænicopterus ruber Mas:

Larus fidipes after Willughbæi: N: VI?²

Lanius collurio, pullus?

Larius collurio, woodchat from Tetuan:

Sturnus niger from Tetuan; a nova species?

Oriolus galbula:

Oriulus - - - - young or variety:

Alauda cristata:

Alauda N^o 1. 2 specimens: bills long & slender; breasts

- - tinged with yellow:

Alauda N^o: 2. 2 spec: bills short, & taper; back claw small

- - - & short; tails short, & dusky; outside features tinged with yellow:

Alaud? bill slender; back claw short, & rather incurved; breast a

- - - little spotted; tail long & dusky; outfeathers white: is it the same

- - - with No 1?

Motacilla N^oo1: What? large: back & wings ash-coloured; head

- - - dusky; throat, breast, belly white: tail lost: an motacilla

- - - dumetorum Linn; Kram: aust: 377: n: 19?

Motacilla N^o 2. what? small: head, back dusky-reddish; wings

- - - dusky; outer webs chestnut-coloured; throat white, breast

- - - tinged with red: feet & legs palish:

Motacilla N^o3: 2 spec: minute: head, back, wings, black feathers

- - edged with chestnut, resembling the paƒser torquatus; throat white

- - - breast, belly, sides tawny; caudâ unicolore; elegant little birds?

In all these difficulties your obliging disposition will prompt you to assist me; & you will besides, I hope, refer so to numerical marks as to prevent mistakes, or misapprehension. It is very remarkable that of all the larks my Bro³: has procured, he has never yet met with a British species. Has Brisson any larks unknown to RayRay. You will find, I think, in the box two or three distinct, & unusual species. My Bro⁴: in Thames-street has sent you the last bottles of fishes. Enclosed with the birds are some rough draug of some fishes taken by my Bro⁵: at Gibraltar; who tho’ he knows nothing of the rules of drawing, yet, he trusts, such rude sketches will inform an Icthyologist better than mere words.

As I have a few shells & fossils, I should take it as a favour if you would (when you return the box) add a few ores, & fossils to my collection, such as y^r mines & neighbourhood afford: a few will be sufficient.

Pray when in the spring do you intend to be in town? Still I hope to be able to meet you there some time or other.

I am much hurried at present, & must stop here: But propose to write again not long hence. With the Compliments of the season I remain with great esteem

Prey when does Mr Banks sail?

Your obliged, & Humble Servant,

Gil: White

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Editorial notes

1. see document 27
2. in Ornithologiae
3. John White
4. Thomas Holt-White
5. John White