7 8 Gleanings from the 



the owl, is one that muft have been noticed by 

 moft lovers of the country : 



" Look how the day-hater, Minerva's bird, 

 Whilft privileged with darknefs and the night, 

 Doth live fecure t' himfelf, of others feared. 

 If but by chance difcovered in the light 

 How doth each little fowl (with envy ftirred), 

 Call him to juftice, urge him with defpite, 

 Summon the feathered flocks of all the wood, 

 To come to fcorn the tyrant of their blood I" 1 



Owls had a diftinct medicinal value with the 

 Romans, as indeed had almoft every bird and 

 plant known to them. In this connection folk- 

 lore is feen allying itfelf with fcience, as yet crude 

 and fanciful. " The feet of a fchriche Owle burnt 

 together with the herb Plumbago, is very good 

 againft ferpents. But before I write further of 

 this bird," adds Pliny, " I cannot ouerpafTe the 

 vanitie of Magicians which herein appeareth moft 

 euidently ; for ouer and befides many other 

 monftrous lies which they haue deuifed, they giue 

 it out, that if one doe lay the heart of a Scrich- 

 Owle on the left pap of a woman as me lies 

 afleep, me will difclofe and utter all the fecrets of 

 her heart ; alfo, whofoeuer carie about them the fame 

 heart when they go to fight, fhal be more hardie, 

 and performe their deuoir the better againft their 

 enemies." Owl's eggs were reported to cure all 

 defects and accidents to which the hair was liable ; 

 but, afks Pliny indignantly, " I would faine know 

 of them what man euer found a Scrich-Owle's 



1 " Hiftory of the Civil Wars," 99. 



