Morning journal and courier., 1888-09-14
THE HORNED OWL.
Some Classical Reflections Anent the
 Solemn Bird ofWisdOm.

Some Classical Reflections Anont the
 Solemn Bird OfWisdOm.
 From All the Year Round.l
 "The owl shrieked at thy birth; an evil sign," is said to the luckless Henry VI, who was to zee the throne wrested from himself and his race, his Queen and his child flying painting and desolate through the land-the one to seek lifelong and unhonored exile, the other an early and unavenged death at a catiff's hand, and to fall beneath murder CTS blow in his own royal palace, which he had known longer as 8 prison than home.
 Again, "the bird of night did sit, even at noon-day, upon the market place, hooting and shrieking;" four and 20 hours before Cesar went out to fall under the daggers of friend and foe alike, with his mantle over his face to hide the death agony from the bowling crowd around. Was Minerva's bird of wisdom given fair and friendly warning when he left his day haunt and braving all the dangers of superstition steeped race, came out to boot Cesar back behind his gates, or was he reveisng in the knowledge of the great Romans certain coming fatea
 It is said that whenever member of the house of the Arundels of Wardour lies on his deathbed pair of large screech owls fly ceas.
 Beyond the fact or non-fact of the owl bird being one of ill omen, various beliefs have clung to his blank, blue orbs and eerie cry. He spat poison upon those who chanced to win his i'll favor, and the only cure, if any , was to bathe at midnight, wben the moon was shining full on the Eve of the dead. The North American Indians name it the t'Death Bird, :" and if after dusk they hear its screeah in the wood they call out to 1t in re- turn; if no backward answer comes their death within the year is certain. On the banks of the Gauges the owl is sacred to Rahu, who makes his night journeys seated astride the soft, dusky back of this lover of darkness.
 The name of the "Bakers Daughter" which earlier poets like to give it, alludes to tale of Palestine that one such had refused to give our Saviour bread, and for punishment was thus transformed. A barn door belief did | or does exist, that the round, flat, glowworm | like eye had power of fascination on it's prey similar to that of the round cruel one of l the serbent.
 As parents the sslord of the dark green | wood" and his mate have an advantage ovel | the rest of the winged tribe, for instead ot bringing up a nestful young of the same age 1 one will be f1edged youth, making eyes al some miniature mouse; another callow younger brother, trying to claw his way uI to the edge of the nest, 8 thIrd still conten l to lie with closed lids and gaping bill, ready for whatever chance may send him, while fourth is chipping away at the inner vaul of his limited and brittle home of shell.
 As most of the allusions to the monarch O the ivy bush have been of a gruesome nature we will conclude by introdueinga few O.
 Barry Ccrnwall's lusty trumpeting lines ol the great horned owl:
 I And the owl hath bride who is fond and bold, I And loveth the woods deep gloom; And with eyes like the shine of the moonstoce col l She waiteth her ghostly groom. i Nor lonely the bird nor his ghastly mate, nroo aah mt al a
 Thrice fonder perhaps, since strange dark fate I Hath rent them from all beside, We know not alway,
 Who are kings by day,
 But the king of night is the bold brown owl.