BARN OWL. Ill 



and still numerous other illustrations of a similar character might 

 be given. 



The nocturnal habits of Owls may afford some illustrations of 

 society, as for example : — 



The lady Cynthia, mistress of the shade, 

 Goes with the fashionable Owls to bed. 



YovsG— Fame. 



And the Owl is also the subject of many bacchanalian songs : — 



Of all the brave birds that ever I see. 

 The Owl is the fairest in her degree ; 

 For all day long she sits in a tree. 

 And when the night comes, away flies she, 



Tu whit ! Tu whoo ! 

 To whom drink'st thou, Sir Knave ? 



To you ! To you ! 



Deuterometia, 1689. 



introduced by Beaumont and Fletcher in the play T/ie Knight of 

 the Burning Pestle ; or as Sir Walter Scott's song says : — 



Of all the birds in bush, or tree. 



Commend me to the Owl ; 

 For he may best ensample be 



To those the cup that trowl, 



with the refrain — 



Then though hours be late, and weather foul. 

 We'll drink to the health of the bonny, bonny Owl. 



Somewhat similar are the words of the well-known glee — 



The Chough and Crow to roost are gone. 



The Owl hoots on the tree ; 



Uprouse ye then 



My merry, merry men 



It is our opening day. 



Owls are not only regarded with prejudice by mankind, but they 

 seem equally unpopular with birds. " There is some sad secret in 

 the Owl's history," says Mr. Evans, " which we do not know, which 

 no bird has yet divulged to us, and which seems to have made him 

 an outcast from the society of the birds of the day. He is branded 



with perpetual infamy The Hawk may be more dreaded, 



but he cannot be more hated than the Owl," p. 82, So?igs of the 

 Birds. 



Not a bird of the forest e'er mates with him, 



All mock him outright by day ; 

 But at night when the woods grow still and dim. 



The boldest will shrink away. 



Barry Cornwall— Oi«;?. 



