Owl

OWL, called in Latin, Bubo, Ulula, Noctua, Nycticorax; it is often taken for the same as Scritch-Owl, as a Bird of the same Kind, that is, one that flies by Night, and lives in Darkness. Moses places the Owl among unclean Birds. When Isaiah speaks of Babylon reduced to a Wilderness, he says Lev. xi. 17. Deut. xiv. 17. Isai. xiii. 22. Ps. cii. 7.that the Owls shall make Answer to one another. Finally, the Psalmist says, that in his Affliction he was as the Owl sitting alone on the House-top. But Interpreters are not agreed about the Signification of the Hebrew Words that are translated by Bubo, Ulula, Nycticorax, Noctua, and Passer. For which see the Commentators.

They reckon several Species of Owls. This Bird has its Head like a Cat, and large sharp Claws. It catches Mice like a Cat; its Eyes cannot bear the great Light of the Sun. Other Birds hate it, and pursue it; and in return the Owl hunts and eats the lesser Birds. Its Cry is mournful and dismal. It passes for a Bird of ill Omen. It was consecrated to Minerva, and upon this Account it was honoured by the Athenians, who represented it upon their Medals. ‘Tis said at this Day to be in great Esteem among the Tartars. The French Word Hibou, an Owl, is derived from the Latin Word Bubo, of the same Signification; or from the Chaldee, Ibbou¹, signifying the same thing.

If the Owl be view’d before, it has something of an hideous Aspect. Its Head is round, large sparkling Eyes, a terrible Countenance, large Ears, its Beak is hard and crooked, of a blackish Colour. The Colour of his Plumage is tawney, a Mixture of white and red, very agreeably diversify’d. There are of three Sizes; the large ones are as big as a Capon, the middle-siz’d are as big as a Wood-pigeon, and the smaller Sort about the Bigness of an ordinary Pigeon.

The horned Owl is of two Kinds, according to Aldrovand, a larger and a smaller. The larger Sort has its Plumage more ash-colour’d and more whitish, and the smaller is more dun, and of a rusty Colour.

The great Owl is likewise of two Sorts, that is, of a larger and of a smaller Kind. The great Owl has neither Horns nor Ears; but to make amends, it has a kind of Crown composed of very fine soft Feathers, which encompasses all its Face. Its Beak is white and very sharp, as also its Pounces. Its Back is of a Lead-colour, mark’d with white Spots. Its Breast and Belly are whitish, with pretty large black Spots interspersed. Its whole Body is cover’d with so large a Quantity of Feathers, that they make it appear as big as a Capon, though, when pluck’d, it is no bigger than a Chicken. It swallows a Mouse or a little Bird all at once; but after it has digested the Flesh, it vomits up the Feathers and the Bones in a round Ball, as the Halcyon gives up the Bones and the Remains of the small Fishes it swallows.

The lesser Owl resembles the great one in almost every thing; but it is smaller, and is hardly of a larger Size than a Dovehouse Pigeon. Its Eyes are extreamly black, its Bill is white and short; the Breast, Belly, fore part of the Wings, the under part of the Belly and Thighs are covered with ash-colour’d Feathers. The Legs and Claws stick out with dun or reddish Hair. It has two Claws before, and two behind, which are armed with black Nails, very strong and sharp.

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