Birds of Madagascar. 211 



mice and other vermin; but their nocturnal habits, their 

 large staring eyes, the " uncanny " ear-like feathers of some, 

 and especially their unearthly screech, have all combined to 

 make them objects of dread. These and other popular notions, 

 as well as observation as to the habits of the bird, are shown 

 in the following proverbs, which probably mostly refer to 

 the Barn Owl, but some also to the Scops, thus : " Don^t 

 act like an Owl : sulky in another's house ; " ^^ A wild cat 

 laughing at an Owl : the one that creeps ridicules the one 

 that flies''"^; ''Bent down in grief and dejection, although 

 nothing has befallen you, like an Owl;" "It is the Tufted 

 Stork {Takatra) that finishes a nestf, but it is the Owl that 

 swells out and gives itself airs;'' "An Owl appearing in the 

 daytime, so all who see it swoop down on it." 



Our notes on this Order may conclude with the following 

 Malagasy fable referring to the Owl and other birds : — 



" Once upon a time, they say, all the birds of the air 

 assembled and agreed to choose one of their number to be 

 king and leader; but the Owl, it is said, did not come, for 

 his mate chanced to be sitting just then. So all the birds 

 agreed together that any one who should see the Owl, and 

 did not kill him, should be expelled the community and be 

 ^counted as an enemy. And that is why the Owl does not go 

 about in the daytime, but only at night ; for if any birds see 

 him, they all set upon him to beat him. 



" And the Falcon also, it is said, wanted to be king and 

 appointed himself, but the rest did not agree to it ; so he left 

 all his companions and became their enemy. Therefore, if 

 the Falcon sees any other bird, he carries it off forthwith, 

 because it is his enemy ; and so the birds, it is said, chose 

 one of themselves as their king. And their choice fell on 

 the Fork-tailed Shrike, because of his good behaviour, and 

 his long crest, and also on account of his many-toned voice. 



" And that, they say, is why this Shrike is considered by 

 the people to be the king of the birds." 



* Wild cats (Kary) are as mucli objects of dislike as Owls, and are 

 frequently classed with them by the Malagasy. 



t The Takatra {Scopus umbretta, Gm.) makes a very large and con- 

 spicuous nest. 



