84 THE NATURAL HISTORY 



LETTER XXIX 



Selborne, Mag 12, 1770. 



Dear Sir, 

 Last month we had such a series of cold turbulent 

 weather, such a constant succession of frost, and snow, 

 and hail, and tempest, that the regular migration or 

 appearance of the summer birds was much interrupted. 

 Some did not show themselves (at least were not 

 heard) till weeks after their usual time ; as the black-cap 

 and white-throat ; and some have not been heard yet, as 

 the grasshopper-lark and largest willow-wren. As to 

 the fly-catcher, I have not seen it ; it is indeed one of 

 the latest, but should appear about this time : and yet, 

 amidst all this meteorous strife and war of the elements, 

 two swallows discovered themselves as long ago as the 

 eleventh of April, 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 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. 



