32 THE SCREECH OWL. 



screech owl prowls about in the dead time of the night, it is no 

 wonder, that in places where they are numerous, they may 

 sometimes have been attracted by the light, and have ap« 

 proached the house or the windows, and uttered those screams 

 which are natural to it, in consequence of fright or surprise. 

 Such a circumstance would be very apt to terrify a timid invalid, 

 or an ignorant nurse, and from this source might easily be de- 

 rived all the absurd notions which have prevailed concerning the 

 ominous nature of the screech owl. 



Mr. Pennant, in his Arctic Zoology, observes, that the Mogul 

 and Kalmuc Tartars pay almost divine honours to this bird ; 

 as attributing to it the preservation of Jenghis Khan, the 

 founder of the empire. This prince having been surprised and 

 put to flight by his enemies, was compelled to shelter himself in 

 a coppice ; and a screech owl settled on the bush under which 

 he was hidden. His pursuers, judging that a bird of that species 

 would not perch where a man was concealed, passed the spot, 

 and thus suffered the prince to escape. His countrymen thence- 

 forth held the owl sacred ; and to the present day, the Kal- 

 mucks adorn their heads with a plume of its feathers on all 

 solemn festivals. 



This bird, which is nearly of the same size as the white, or 

 common barn owl, is distinguished from the latter species, by 

 scarcely any other mark than the colour of its plumage, which 

 is a kind of mixture of iron grey and tawny ; and the principal 

 reason for introducing it to notice, was, that it might serve as 

 an inducement to observe and despise the absurd ideas of weak 

 and ignorant minds. Indeed, we are certain, that the screech 

 owl is a very harmless bird : it preys solely on small buds, 

 mice or reptiles, and never either procured or foretold the death 

 or disaster of any human being, whatever nurses and gossips 

 may think of the matter. 



