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.

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