224 
RICE-BIRDS AND OWLS. 
nected together by a string. Numerous radiating lines of such stakes 
stretch from the house to those ah-eady mentioned; and the ■watcher, 
generally a child, or some person too old to work, has but to pull any 
set of these lines to drive the would-be plunderers from this or that 
part of the field. 
Of owls there are seven species; and when one is heard to raise 
its tu-whit, tu-whoo near a house, the inmates believe that sickness or 
some other misfortune is near at hand. It is thus to be noted that, 
KICE-BIRDS. 
in the East as in the West, the owl has an evil fame ; yet she has at 
all events one excellent quality, — her maternal affection is indubitable. 
Of eagles and falcons or kites, eight species are found in Java; 
one of which is very abundant at all the anchorages, and so tame as 
to light on the rigging of a ship in the close vicinity of the seamen. 
Having caught some offal in his long talons, he tears it to pieces with 
his beak, and swallows it as he sails slowly through the air; instead 
of flying away to some convenient perch, and consuming it at his 
leisure, as is the case with most birds of prey. 
