128 
The above must be understood with certain 
restrictions, as all the different species of Owls 
are not equally distinguished by such nice 
sensibility in the organs of sight* and conse- 
quently not equally overpowered by the light 
of day. This difference in the sight of Owls 
regulates the time of their depredations ; such 
as nearest resemble other birds, issue from 
their retreats immediately after the setting of 
the Sun, (some species are in search of prey 
the greater part of the day), the more quick* 
sighted remain concealed till later in the 
evening. 
In all ages, and in almost every part of the 
globe, Owls have been considered birds of ill 
omen and the messengers of death. Rome 
itself, during its most prosperous state, under- 
went a lustration because one of them stray- 
ed into its capitol. Virey, in allusion to this 
superstitious idea, when treating of the Owl* 
say^, " behold them, when twilight begins to 
cover the earth with its grey and sombre 
mantle, then they unfold their limbs at liber- 
ty ; then they make the rocks, the ruined 
castle, and dilapidated mansion echo with 
their melancholy hootings. The superstiti- 
