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 cel\e de bien 
d’autres naturalistes pour demander que l’on protege les 
premieres de ces betes.- 
“ Les hibous et les chouettes, bien loin de jeter de 
mauvais sorts sur nos demeures, prennent au contraire, 
un grand soin de nos interets. Ces oiseaux exterminent ; 
en efifet, 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. 
