MINERVAS UGGLA. 281 



single specimen has hitherto been found in the peninsula, 

 and that, moreover, on the southern coast. It was believed to 

 have got out of its latitude, and to have come from one of 

 the Danish islands, where, according to Kjaerbolling, those 

 birds are pretty common. 



It was this owl, that the ancients called Minerva Noctua, 

 or MinervcB Avis, and which, as a symbol, the Greeks placed 

 on the helmet of the Goddess of Wisdom. In Athens 

 which town was sacred to Minerva, and where she had a 

 temple this bird was so numerous, that hence arose the 

 saying, TAauW 'A-Wva<r, equivalent to our " bearing water to 

 the well," or " sending coals to Newcastle." Minerva's owl 

 is still to be found among the ruins of Athens. 



The White Owl (Torn-Uggla, or Tower Owl, Sw. ; Stria 

 flammea, Linn.) has even a still less title than Minerva's 

 owl to a place amongst the birds of Sweden and Norway ; 

 for the single specimen seen in Scandinavia and on the 

 strength of which M. Nilsson has included it in his fauna 

 was not in reality secured in the peninsula, but on the mast 

 of a ship off the coast. According to Kjaerbolling, this bird 

 is not very uncommon in Denmark. 



