54 



GREAT HORNED-OWL. 



generally introdiiced to heighten the horror of the picture. Igno- 

 rance and superstition, in all ages, and in all countries, listen to the 

 voice of the Owl and even contemplate its physiognomy with feel- 

 ings of disgust, and a kind of fearful awe. The priests, or conjurers, 

 among some of our Indian nations, have taken advantage of the 

 reverential horror for this bird, and have adopted the Great Horned 

 Oivlj the subject of the present account, as the symbol or emblem 

 of their office. " Among the Creeks," says Mr. Bartram, " the 

 junior priests, or students, constantly wear a white mantle, and 

 have a Great Owl-skin cased and stuffed very ingeniously, so well 

 executed as almost to appear like the living bird, having large 

 sparkling glass beads, or buttons, fixed in the head for eyes. This 

 insignia of wisdom and divination they wear sometimes as a crest 

 on the top of the head ; at other times the image sits on the arm, 

 or is borne on the hand. These bachelors are also distinguished 

 from the other people by their taciturnity, grave and solemn coun- 

 tenance, dignified step, and singing to themselves songs or hymns 

 in a low, sweet voice, as they stroll about the town." * 



Nothing is a more effectual cure for superstition than a know- 

 ledge of the general laws and productions of nature ; nor more for- 

 cibly leads our reflections to the first, great, self-existent cause 

 of all, to whom our reverential awe is then humbly devoted, and 

 not to any of his dependent creatures. With all the gloomy habits 

 and ungracious tones of the Owl, there is nothing in this bird su- 

 pernatural or mysterious, or more than that of a simple bird of 

 prey formed for feeding by night, like many other animals, and of 

 reposing by day. The harshness of its voice, occasioned by the 

 width and capacity of its throat, may be intended by heaven as an 

 alarm and warning to the birds and animals on which it preys to 

 secure themselves from danger. The voices of all carnivorous 

 birds and animals are also observed to be harsh and hideous, pro- 

 bably for this very purpose. 



* TraYels, p. 504. 



