NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 79 



as long ago as April 11th, 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 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 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 favourite food : and yet 

 nature in this instance seems to have planted in them an 



