414 The Zoologist — October, 1866. 



And we read in 'Julius Caesar' that 



" Yesterday the bird of night did sit 

 Even at noonday upon the inavket-place, 

 Hooting and shrieking." 



There is some difference of opinion among naturalists as to whether 

 the power of hooting and shrieking is possessed by the same species. 

 The general opinion, however, seems to be that the common barn or 

 white owl does not hoot, but only shrieks, and is in fact the bird 

 always alluded to as the screech-owl, whereas the brown owls [Strix 

 otus, S. brachyotus and S. aluco) are the hooters. In the passage 

 quoted above, both sounds are attributed to the same bird. 



Another question in Natural History is raised by the following 

 passage in ' Macbeth ' (Act iv. Scene 2), 



" For the poor wren, 

 The most dimiiuuive of birds, will fight 

 Her young ones in her uesl against the owl." 



We have never known an instance of an owl seizing a bird from the 

 nest, although such an occurrence is not improbable in the case of 

 birds which place their nests in exposed situations, as the sky lark. 



Our observant poet has truly characterized the motion of this bird 

 on the wing when he speaks of 



" The night owVs lazy flight." 



Henry VI., Part III. Act ii. Scene I. 



The habit of breeding in retired situations is alluded to in ' Titus 

 Andronicus' (Act ii. Scene 3), 



" Here never shines the sun ; here nothing breeds, 

 Unless the nightly owl." 



By many its appearance is considered to forebode death, and nume- 

 rous allusions prove the existence of this superstition. 



" Out on ye, owls ! nothing but songs oi death ? " 



Richard III., Act iv. Scene 4. 



" The screech-owl, screeching loud. 

 Puts the wretch that lies in woe 

 In remembrance of a shroud." 



Midsummer Night's Dream, Act v. Scene 2. 



