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INTRODUCTION
65
manufactured out of it. The idea that no rain falls when it lays its eggs is in vogue there but in the minds of people of the western part of United States it is just the opposite view which is maintained. Their flocking brings war! Pliny records that when they cry as if their throats are choked up, 6 they are very ominous. Of all the birds, ravens are the only ones whose conduct is considered definitely suggestive. The flight of the ravens that took place when the guests of Meduo were killed is an instance to the point. Alexander and Cicero both had glimpses of their death through raven. It is also a remarkable that raven brought sometimes divine favour alsoʻ.
(3) Owl: There are passages, in Indian Literature especially in Hiraṇyakesin's Grhya-Sūtra, where the owl is addressed as below :-“Flying round the village from left to right, portend us luck by the cry, o Owl". The appearance of 15 an owl was considered inauspicious at the beginning of every fresh activity. An owl once went to the sanctuary of the Capitol when S. Palpelius was the consul and for this very reason the whole city was cleaned. Again, the cry of an owl on the left neutralized the good effect of the notes of other birds 20 during the consulship of Cassius“. The cries of the bubo and the strix were interpreted as ill-omened". One should not try to imitate them. The eagle-owl is an object of respect but it is hazardous to mimic the cry of it also. It is also interesting to note that the owl was the incarnation of divinity 25 was the accepted belief in one Samoan village. The eagle-owl was considered benefic and it was also described as “divine little bird", "servant of the world” etc. etc. It was taken to be a sign of good luck to a party going to wage a war, if an owl flew ahead of it while it stood for bad luck for the # party if it flew across the road or towards the reare Limbs of an owl were used as magic ingredients, even the feathers also. It is also usually considered an assosiciate of devils, goblins and witches. Many peculiar notions have clustered round an owl the
1 R. 1. BURTON, Mission to Galele, London, 1864, II, 246 f. : LV, X, 15. 3 SBE, XXX, 183, 4 Lucan, V, 295. 5 E, W, MARTIN, The Birds of the Latin Poets, s, v. 'Bubo', 'Strix' etc. 6 TURNER, Samoa, London, 1884, pp. 24-26.
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