98 THE OWL’S GOOD NIGHT. 
without feeling the impressive effect produced by the 
introduction of a bird which is held in such detestation 
by the ignorant, but which naturalists have shown to be 
not only harmless, but useful. 
But— 
“The owl, night’s herald, shrieks,—'tis very late.” 
Venus and Adonis. 
And, therefore, with Boyet, in Love's Labour's Lost (Act 
iv. Sc. 1), we will say :— 
“Good night, my good owl.” 
