martins, which are always more backward than 

 swallows, were not observed till May came in. 



Among the monogamous birds several are to be 

 found single after pairing-time, 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 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, 

 w^hose zeal for the increase of his game being greater 

 than his humanity, after paring-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 that she was still provided with a fresh para- 

 mour, that did not take her away from her usual 

 haunt. 



Again : I knew a lover of setting, an old sports- 

 man, who has often told me that soon after harvest 

 he has frequently taken small coveys of partridges, 



133 



