– the Jamaican owl Genus Psiloscops – the flammulated owl Genus Ptilopsis – the white-faced owls, two species Genus Pulsatrix – the spectacled owls, three species Genus Strix – the earless owls, about 15 species, including four previously assigned to Ciccaba Genus Surnia – the northern hawk-owl Genus Taenioptynx - the collared owlet Genus Uroglaux – the Papuan hawk-owl Genus Xenoglaux – the long-whiskered owlet Extinct genera Genus Grallistrix – the stilt-owls, four species; prehistoric Genus Ornimegalonyx – the Caribbean giant owls, one to two species; prehistoric Fossil genera Mioglaux (Late Oligocene? – Early Miocene of West-Central Europe) – includes "Bubo" poirreiri Intutula (Early/Middle – ?Late Miocene of Central Europe) – includes "Strix/Ninox" brevis Alasio (Middle Miocene of Vieux-Collonges, France) – includes "Strix" collongensis Oraristrix – the Brea owl (Late Pleistocene) Placement unresolved "Otus/Strix" wintershofensis: fossil (Early/Middle Miocene of Wintershof West, Germany) – may be close to extant genus Ninox "Strix" edwardsi – fossil (Middle/Late? Miocene) "Asio" pygmaeus – fossil (Early Pliocene of Odessa, Ukraine) Strigidae gen. et sp. indet. UMMP V31030 (Late Pliocene) – Strix/Bubo? the Ibizan owl, Strigidae gen. et sp. indet. – prehistoric Symbolism and mythology African cultures Among the Kikuyu of Kenya, it was believed that owls were harbingers of death. If one saw an owl or heard its hoot, someone was going to die. In general, owls are viewed as harbingers of bad luck, ill health, or death. The belief is widespread even today. Asia In Mongolia, the owl is regarded as a benign omen. In one story, Genghis Khan was hiding from enemies in a small coppice when an owl roosted in the tree above him, which caused his pursuers to think no man could be hidden there. In modern Japan, owls are regarded as lucky and are carried in the form of a talisman or charm. Hootum Pyanchar Naksha by Kaliprasanna Singha (1841–1870), first published in 1861, is a book of social commentaries influential in Bengali literature. The name literally means "Sketches by a Watching Owl". Sumerian and ancient Semitic cultures In Sumerian, Akkadian, and Babylonian culture, the owl was associated with Lilith. This association also occurs in the Bible (in some translations) in Isaiah 34:14. Ancient European and modern Western culture The modern West generally associates owls with wisdom and vigilance. This link goes back at least as far as Ancient Greece, where Athens, noted for art and scholarship, and Athena, Athens'