9(5 NATURAL HISTORY 



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. 1 



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 appetite that, unassisted, they know not how to gratify; 

 for of all quadrupeds, cats are the least disposed towards 



1 This is contrary to the experience of the late Charles Waterton, 

 who, in his " Essays in Natural History," 1st series, p. 14, says : 



" When fanners complain that the barn owl destroys the eggs of their 

 pigeons they lay the saddle on the wrong horse. They ought to put it 

 on the rat. Formerly I could get very few young pigeons till the rats 

 were excluded effectually from the dove cot. Since that took place it 

 has produced a great abundance every year, though the barn owls 

 frequent it, and are encouraged all around it. The barn owl merely 

 resorts to it for repose and concealment. If it were really an enemy 

 to the dove cot we should see the pigeons in commotion as soon as it 

 begins its evening flight ! but the pigeons heed it not ; whereas if tho 

 sparrow hawk or hobby should make its appearance, the whole com- 

 munity would be up at once ; proof sufficient that the barn owl is not 

 looked upon as a bad, or even a suspicious character by the inhabitants 

 of the dove cot." ED. 



