282 THE CIVETTA, OR 



THE CIVETTA, OR LITTLE ITALIAN 



OWL. 



THIS diminutive rover of the night is much prized by the gardeners 

 of Italy for its uncommon ability in destroying insects, snails, slugs, 

 reptiles, and mice. There is scarcely an out-house in the gardens 

 and vineyards of that country which is not tenanted by the civetta. 

 It is often brought up tame from the nest; and in the month of 

 September is sold for a dollar to sportsmen, who take it with them 

 in their excursions through the country, to look for larks and other 

 small birds. Perched on the top of a pole, it attracts their notice, 

 and draws them within the fatal range of gunshot by its most singular 

 gestures ; for, standing bolt upright, it curtsies incessantly, with its 

 head somewhat inclined forwards, whilst it keeps its eyes fixed on 

 the approaching object. This odd movement is peculiar to the 

 civetta alone. By it the birds of the neighbourhood are decoyed 

 to their destruction. Hence its value to the ranging sportsmen. 

 Often and anon, as the inhabitants of Rome pass through the bird- 

 market at the Pantheon, they stop and look and laugh at this pretty 

 little captive owl, whilst it is performing its ridiculous gesticula- 

 tions. 



Its flesh is relished by the * natives of Italy. You may see the 

 civetta, plucked and ready trussed for the spit, on the same stall at 

 which hawks, crows, jackdaws, jays, magpies, hedgehogs, frogs, 

 snails, and buzzards are offered for sale to the passing conoscenti, 

 who frequent the bird market in quest of carnal delicacies. The 

 inhabitants of this country are apparently blessed with stomachs as 

 keen and strong as that of my old black friend Daddy Quasshi, who 

 could fatten on the grubs of hornets and on stinking fish. Indeed, 

 it would appear from what I have seen, that scarcely anything which 

 has had life in it comes amiss to the Italians in the way of food, 

 except the Hanoverian rat, for I could often see this voracious and 

 needy intruder lying dead in the streets and trodden under foot. 



Thinking that the civetta would be peculiarly useful to the British 

 horticulturist, not, by the way, in his kitchen, but in his kitchen- 



