GREAT HORNED-OWL. 
135 
scriptions and delineations of midnight storms, and gloomy 
scenes of nature, the Owl is generally introduced to heighten 
the horror of the picture. Ignorance and superstition, in all 
ages, and in all countries, listen to the voice of the Owl, and 
even contemplate its physiognomy with feelings 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-Ovjl, 
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 some- 
times 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 countenance, 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 
forcibly leads our reflections to the first, great, self-existent 
CAUSE of all, to whom our reverential awe is then humbly de- 
voted, 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 supernatural 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. 
Travels, p. 504. 
