At Home with Wild Nature 



offending bird's legs were warm his nocturnal music 

 was a sign of good luck, and he lived to indulge in 

 further prophecy, but if they were cold, alas ! the 

 prophet prophesied no more. 



The flight of a bird still exercises a considerable 

 influence over some people. Many men and women, 

 even in these matter-of-fact times, consider it a sign of 

 death if a small bird should enter a bedroom, and it 

 probably is to flies and spiders. We are told that the 

 soldiers who won the battle of Salamis did so because 

 their faith and courage were stimulated by the flight of 

 an owl. If our grandfathers first heard the cuckoo 

 " telling his name to all the hills " on their right hand 

 it augured good luck, and heartened them up no end, 

 but if on the left it was a sign of misfortune, and was 

 received with an equal degree of depression. To-day 

 you are advised to turn your money over in your pocket 

 when you hear the wanderer's voice for the first time, 

 and to prepare for a spell of bad luck if he catches you 

 with empty pockets. I have been caught once, but was 

 fully conscious of my predicament long before the bird 

 had time to tell me. 



In the far away days, when they knew little and 

 believed much, they were convinced that if a mouse 

 gnawed a hole in one of your garments bad luck was 

 sure to overtake you. There's a touch of humour about 

 this little expression of belief, because if the " wee 

 tim'rous beastie " happened to select the bottom of a 

 pocket containing your money wallet the bad luck 

 would certainly follow. I have lost money more than 



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