Bird Gods in Ancient Europe 



harmless and most useful little bird is known 

 to most people, not only in Europe, but in 

 Asia and America. Its broad eyes that seem 

 at night to shine with an inner light, its big 

 head and high forehead, its mysterious feather- 

 light flight and the disconcerting harshness of 

 its cry have always given it an uncanny repute. 

 Why has the witch always been more feared 

 than the wizard, at least in historical times ? 

 For some reason the small owl has generally 

 been connected with the female sex. Not only 

 was it the bird of the Maiden Maid, patroness 

 of spinning, embroidery and the olive-orchard 

 among the greatest of mankind, the classic 

 Athenians, but it is still the woman's bird 

 among the lowest of races, the blacks of Aus- 

 tralia. Many of these tribes use " owl " as a 

 synonym for " woman " and believe that when 

 an owl is killed some woman's death is sure to 

 follow. The women on the other hand call 

 men " bats " ; the death of a bat, so they be- 

 lieve, portends the death of a black fellow. 



