ITS UTILITY TO THE FARMER, 387 
a journey, they will return. When going out at night to 
the jungle, if the scream of a hawk, or an owl, or of a 
small kind of frog be heard, it is a sign that sickness will 
follow if the design be pursued ; and again, if the screech 
of the two former be heard in front of a party on the war- 
path, it is an evil sign, and they must return. Omens 
derived from the cry of birds are always sought previously 
to setting out on a journey, and before fixing on a spot to 
build new houses, or to prepare their farms.” 
Far from bringing any ill-luck to our dwellings, owls 
are really of the greatest service to us in destroying great 
numbers of vermin. A Swiss naturalist, speaking of the 
quantity of field-voles which are annually destroyed by 
owls and buzzards, says :+— 
“C’est un fait curieux que l’homme s’acharne tout 
particuligrement a detruire ses meillures amis, et qu'il 
poursuive de ses malédictions les étres qui le servent le 
mieux. Je joindrai donc ma faible voix a celle de bien 
d’autres naturalistes pour demander que l’on protége les 
premieres de ces bétes. 
“Les hibous et les chouettes, bien loin de jeter de 
mauvais sorts sur nos demeures, prennent au contraire, 
un grand soin de nos intéréts. Ces oiseaux exterminent, 
en effet, bien plus de souris que n’en pourront prendre 
jamais les meilleurs taupiers. Les buses n’ont nulle- 
* Victor Fatio, ‘(Les Campagnols du Bassin du Léman.” Bale, Généve, et 
Paris. 1867. P. 16, 
