~~ ae 
1923. j The Owl in Folklore. 59 
growth .. parasitic on the feathers of the owl.’’?! Owing to 
their luminous appearance these birds have created the belief 
seas ‘* Lantern Men, Lantern Birds,’’ etc. ? 
e followi ing Indian tale known as “ The tale of the Owl 
asa King,” which is one of the tales | known as the Jataka tales,é 
shows that the owl was taken as a “ Bird of Wisdom,” worthy 
to be considered as a ruler or king of birds. But it was rejected 
for its ugliness, 
The Owl as King. 
“Once upon a time, the people who lived in the first cycle 
of the world gathered together, and took for their king a certain 
man, handsome, auspicious, commanding, altogether perfect. 
The quadrupeds also gathered, and chose for king the Lion ; and 
the fish in the ocean chose them a fish called Ananda. en 
ul the birds in the Himalayas assembled upon a flat rock, 
er ving : 
‘Among men PHOS is a king, and among the beasts, as 
the fi fish have one too; but amongst us birds, king there is none. 
We should not live in anarchy ; we too should choose a ‘ing. 
ix on some one fit to be set in the king’s place!’ 
‘** They sorte es about for such a bird and chose the owl ; 
Here is the bird we like,’ said they. And a bird made 
proclamation three lace to all that there would be a vote 
taken on this matter. After patiently hearing this announce- 
ment. twi a on the third time on rose a Crow, and cried out 
Stay now! If that is what he looks like when eg is 
felis conseorated king, what will he look like when he is angry ‘ 
If he only looks at us in anger, we shall be scattered like 
sesame e thrown on a ho t late. I don’t want to make 
this fellow king!’ and enlarging upon this he uttered the first 
eee The owl is king, you say, o’er all bird-kind: 
With your permission, may | speak my mi 
“The Birds repeated the second, granting him leave to 
speak : 
> 
‘You have our leave, Sir, so it be good and right, 
For other birds are young, and wise, and bright.’ 
Thus permitted, he repeated the third : 
‘1 like not (with all deference be it said), 
To have the owl anointed as our Head. 
Look at his face! if this good humou r be, 
What will he do when he looks se U 
Vide ti the ‘* ; Contithgueaey Review ”’ of ae 1908, the article on 
ininae Owls and the Will of the Wisp,’”’ by Mr. Digby Pigott, p. 64. 
2 Ibid. 

3 Jaétaka Tales, by H. F. Frances and E. J. Thomas (1916), p. 213. 
