ae 
THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. tage) eae 
summeér 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 April 11th, 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 
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. 
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 favorite 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 water: and 
will not, when they can avoid it, deign to wet a foot, much less 
to plunge into that element. 
Quadrupeds that prey on fish are amphibious: such is the 
otter, which by nature is so well formed for diving, that it 
makes great havoc among the inhabitants of the waters. Not 
