OF SELBORNE. 259 



We have had, ever since I can remem- 

 ber, a pair of white owls that constantly 

 breed under the eaves of this church. As 

 I have paid good attention to the manner 

 of life of these birds during their season of 

 breeding, which lasts the Summer through, 

 the following remarks may not perhaps be 

 unacceptable : — About an hour before sun- 

 set (for then the mice begin to run) they 

 sally forth in quest of prey, and hunt all 

 round the hedges of meadows and small 

 enclosures for them, which seem to be their 

 only food. In this irregular country we 

 can stand on an eminence and see them 

 beat the fields over like a setting-dog, and 

 often drop down in the grass or corn. I 

 have minuted these birds with my watch 

 for an hour together, and have found that 

 they return to their nest, the one or the 

 other of them, about once in five minutes ; 

 reflecting at the same time on the adroit- 

 ness that every animal is possessed of as 

 far as regards the well-being of itself and 

 offspring. But a piece of address, which 

 they show when they return loaded, should 



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