ITS UTILITY TO THE FARMER. 87 



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 

 particulierement a detruire ses meillures amis, et qu'il 

 poursuive de ses maledictions les etres qui le servent le 

 mieux. Je joindrai done ma faible voix a celle de bien 

 d'autres naturalistes pour demander que Ton protege les 

 premieres de ces betes. 



" Les hibous et les chouettes, bien loin de jeter de 



1 



mauvais sorts sur nos demeures, prennent au contraire, 

 un grand soin de nos interets. 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 Leman." Bale, Geneve, et 

 Paris. 1867. P. 16. 



