Barn owl.

£750 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

A handsome taxidermied barn owl mounted on a tree branch in a diorama style case with glass on three sides. The common barn owl, Tyto alba, is one of the most widely distributed of all bird species. Its evocative, ghostly appearance and haunting shriek has contributed to its reputation as an ill omen in international folklore. In ancient Egypt they were known as 'the one who laments', and as a hieroglyph were depicted in an unusual face-forward pose to highlight their striking features, just like this example. Taxidermied barn owl; late 20th century; mounted in a case with 3 glass sides, in a naturalistic setting with a tree branch, the case measuring 33 x 21 x 44.5 cm.

• Binding: Hardcover

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