NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 83 
PEPPER xX XTX, 
TO THE SAME. 
SELBORNE, May 12th, 1770. 
DEAR SIR,—Last month we had such a series of cold turbulent 
weather, such a constant succession of frost, and snow, and hail, 
and tempest, that the regular migration or appearance of the sum- 
mer birds was much interrupted. Some did not show themselves 
(at least were not heard) till weeks after their usual time ; as the 
blackcap and whitethroat ; and some have not been heard yet, as 
the grasshopper-lark and largest willow-wren. As to the fly-catcher, 
I have not seen it ; it is indeed one of the latest, but should appear 
about this time : and yet, amidst all this meteorous strife and war 
of the elements, two swallows discovered themselves as long ago as 
the eleventh of April, in frost and snow ; but they withdrew quickly, 
and were not visible again for many days. House-martins, which 
are always more backward than swallows, were not observed till 
May came in.* 
Among the monogamous birds several are to be found, after 
pairing-time, single, and of each sex; but whether this state of 
celibacy is matter of choice or necessity, is not so easily discoverable. 
When the house-sparrows deprive my martins of their nests, as soon 
as I cause one to be shot, the other, be it cock or hen, presently 
procures a mate, and so for several times following. 
I have known a dove-house infested by a pair of white owls, which 
made great havoc among the young pigeons: one of the owls was 
latitudes, in Europe between the 53° and 65°, in Asia from 35° to 15°, and in America 
between the 44° and 53°, round the great lakes, and over the whole of Canada and New 
Brunswick. But this is quite a different animal from that found in a fossil state and 
known as the elk. It is the cerwus giganteus of Cuvier, and fine specimens of the remains 
have been found in the bogs of Ireland and the Isle of Man. The American elk, for it is 
possible the animal of Europe and Asia may prove distinct, has a very marked character 
in the form of the upper lip; it is undoubtedly an organ of prehension necessary for its 
mode of life.” 
* Weather such as described has an effect upon the arrival of our summer birds of 
passage, and we may suppose therefore that where there is no great extent of ocean to 
cross that the migration takes place gradually ; the birds being delayed as they approached 
the north for the appearance of genial weather. The present season, 1853, has been such 
an one as Mr. White describes 1770 to have been; this year all the migrating species are 
unusually late and few in numbers. 
