96 
NATURAL HISTORY 
1 have known a dove-house infested hy a pair of white 
owls, which made great havoc among the joung 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 appetite that, unassisted, they know not how to gratify; 
for of all quadrupeds, cats are the least disposed towards 
* This is contrary to the experience of the late Charles Water ton, 
who, in his " Essays in Natural History," 1st series, p. 14, says : — 
" When farmers 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 rery 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 the 
sparrow hawk or hobby should make its appearance, the whole com- 
munity would be up at once ; proof suflicient that the barn owl is not 
looked upon as a bad, or even a suspicious character by the inhabitants 
of the dove cot." — Ed. 
