Francis Brett YoungAll primitive people are frightened of owls, ' said Harley. 'The villagers here are scared to death of the gufo. Birds of ill omen. If they see one, they think they'll die. But they never do. See one, I mean, of course, ' he added with a laugh.
About This Quote
This quote, which is attributed to the English anthropologist James George Frazer (1854-1941), captures some key traits of primitive thinking. The idea that owls are bad omens is widespread among primitive people around the world. This idea has its origins in the fact that owls are nocturnal creatures, which makes them difficult to see at night. Primitive people often associate nocturnal animals with evil spirits. The gufo, which is a type of owl, is often considered to be an ill omen because it is nocturnal and it eats carrion, which means that it is associated with death.
Source: Cold Harbour
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