Fearless Criticism. — Gilbert White's ac- 
curacy and natural modesty made him state 
facts of which he was not absolutely as- 
sured in a hypothetical form. “I think,” 
he says, “that White Owls never hoot.” 
To this Rennie appends a note — “White 
Owls do hoot. I have shot one in the act.” 
Waterton, who held a low opinion of the 
professor’s practical knowledge, remarks, 
“ As Mr. Rennie asserts that he has shot a 
White Owl in the act of hooting, I admit 
that that particular Owl did hoot, but no 
other White Owl since the world began 
ever did hoot.” 
O.&O. Vlll. May. 1883 . v>J>A. 
(F=A- /£? 2 . , U. 
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