The Zoologist — October, 1866. 415 



" Bring forth Ihe fatal screech-owl to our house, 

 That nothinn; sung but death to us and ours ; 

 Now death shall slop his dismal threat'ning sound, 

 And his ill-boding tongue no more shall speak." 



Henry VI., Part III. Act ii. Scene 6. 



" Let him that will a screech-owl aye be called. 

 Go into Troy and say there Hector's dead ! " 



Troilus and Cressida, Act v. Scene 2. 



That it is unlucky for an owl to appear at a birth we learn from 

 King Henry VI., who says, addressing Gloster, 



" The owl shriek'd at thy birth, an evil sign." 



Henri/ VI., Part III. Act v. Scene 6. 



The following quotation I have some hesitation in introducing, for 

 there appears to be a difference of reading, which quite alters the 

 sense, 



" No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose 

 To be a comrade with the wolf and owl." 



Mr. Collier, taking into consideration the next line, reads, 



"To be a comrade with the wolf, and howl 

 Necessity's sharp pinch." 



And this seems more probably the correct reading. 



The word "owl" is frequently used as a term of reproach or 

 derision, ^ — 



"Vile owl!" 



Troilus and Cressida, Act ii. Scene 1. 



And we have the common expression, " As stupid as an owl." 



" To what form * * should wit * * larded with malice * * * turn 

 him to ? To be an owl," &c. — Troilus and Cressida, Act v. Scene 1. 



But if the owl had many enemies, it had nevertheless some friends. 

 With witches and fairies it was always an ally. 



By the former " an owlet's wing " was considered " a charm of 

 powerful trouble," as we read in ' Macbeth ' (Act iv. Scene 1), and with 

 the latter it was generally a companion in their moonlight gambols. 



" This is the fairy-land, spite of spites. 

 We talk with goblins, owls, and elvish sprites." 



Comedy of Errors, Act ii. Scene 2. 



