Owl: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 12:06, 6 October 2006

The owl is a nocturnal bird of prey, known for its silent flight, distinctive "whooo" call, and large, front-set eyes.

In medieval bestiaries and literature, the owl is often given an unkind treatment, associated with darkness, ruins, and graves.

From Chaucer, The Squire's Tale:

In which were painted all these false fowls,

As be these tidifes,* tercelets, and owls;

Owls get a more fair treatment in later period. From a 17th century drinking song that is also a popular SCA madrigal:

Of all the birds that ever I see,

The owl is the fairest in her degree.

For all the day long she sits in a tree,

And when the night comes away flies she.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 The '''owl''' is a nocturnal [[bird]] of prey, known for its silent flight, distinctive "whooo" call, and large, front-set eyes.
-In medieval [[bestiary|bestiaries]] and literature, the owl is often given an unkind treatment, associated with darkness, ruins, and graves.
+In [[medieval]] [[bestiary|bestiaries]] and [[literature]], the owl is often given an unkind treatment, associated with darkness, ruins, and [[grave]]s.
 From [[Chaucer]], '''The Squire's Tale''':
+:''In which were painted all these false fowls,''
+:''As be these tidifes,* tercelets, and owls;''
+Owls get a more fair treatment in later [[period]].  From a [[17th century]] [[drinking]] [[song]] that is also a popular [[SCA]] [[madrigal]]:
-''In which were painted all these false fowls,''
+:''Of all the birds that ever I see,''
+:''The owl is the fairest in her degree.''
-''As be these tidifes,* tercelets, and owls;''
+:''For all the day long she sits in a tree,''
+:''And when the night comes away flies she.''
-Owls get a more fair treatment in later [[period]].  From a 17th century drinking song that is also a popular [[SCA]] [[madrigal]]:
-''Of all the birds that ever I see,''
-''The owl is the fairest in her degree.''
-''For all the day long she sits in a tree,''
-''And when the night comes away flies she.''
-''See also:''
+=== External links ===
 *http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast245.htm
 *http://www.abdn.ac.uk/bestiary/comment/35vbirdf.hti