In Greek myth, after tattling on Persephone for having eaten a pomegranate in Hades, Ascalaphus was transformed into one of these birds, one of which was the mount of Lakshmi.
These animals were known as ko'ko and could communicate with the dead in Hopi mythology. Romans believed that witches transformed into these animals to suck the blood of babies and that dreams in which they appeared portended robbery or shipwreck; such a fate could be avoided by killing one of these animals and nailing it to a door.. In Greek myth, after tattling on Persephone for having eaten a pomegranate in Hades, Ascalaphus was transformed into one of these birds, one of which was the mount of Lakshmi. Perhaps a better Greek example though would be Glaucus, the so-called "little" one that became Athena's favorite pet. For 10 points, name these nocturnal birds whose pellets you probably dissected in first grade, which come in "barn" and "screech" varieties.
These animals were known as ko'ko and could communicate with the dead in Hopi mythology.
owls [accept any specific variety; prompt on birds until mentioned]