It was the Owl that shriek’d, the fatal bellman,
Which gives the stern’st good-night.’
Macbeth, Act ii., Sc. 2.
And when the murderer rushes in immediately afterwards, exclaiming—‘I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?’ She replies—‘I heard the Owl scream.’ And later on—‘The obscure bird clamour’d the live-long night.’” (Macbeth, Act. ii., Sc. 3.)
The awe, no doubt, with which this bird is regarded by the superstitious, may be attributed in some measure to the fact of its flying by night.
“Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night,
· · · · · · · · · ·
The time when Screech-Owls cry and Ban-Dogs howl.”
Henry VI., Part ii., Act i., Sc. 4.