70 WHITE 



ments, two swallows discovered themselves as long ago as 

 April nth, 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 easy dis- 

 coverable. 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 shot as soon as possible ; but the survivor readily 

 found a mate, and the mischief went on. After some time 

 the new pair were both destroyed, and the annoyance ceased. 



Another instance I remember of a sportsman, whose zeal 

 for the increase of his game being greater than his humanity, 

 after pairing time he always shot the cock bird of every couple 

 of partridges upon his grounds ; supposing that the rivalry of 

 many males interrupted the breed : he used to say, that, though 

 he had widowed the same hen several times, yet he found she 

 was still provided with a fresh paramour, that did not take her 

 away from her usual haunt. 



Again ; I knew a lover of setting, an old sportsman, who 

 has often told me that soon after harvest he has frequently 

 taken small coveys of partridges, consisting of cock birds 

 alone ; these he pleasantly used to call old bachelors. 



There is a propensity belonging to common house-cats that 

 is very remarkable; I mean their violent fondness for fish, 

 which appears to be their most favorite food : and yet nature 

 in this instance seems to have planted in them an appetite 

 that, unassisted, they know not how to gratify : for of all quad- 

 rupeds cats are the least disposed towards water ; and will 

 not, when they can avoid it, deign to wet a foot, much less to 

 plunge into that element. 



Quadrupeds that prey on fish are amphibious : such is the 

 otter, which by nature is so well formed for diving, that it 



