I remember a bird expert showing us and owl and explaining that because the owl has such superb eyesight, most of its brain is taken up with this faculty, and it is in other respects pretty dim-witted, even by bird standards. A bit like Neanderthals, then.

I suppose this is all connected with the way we close our eyes to concentrate on a tune (well, I often do, particularly if I'm trying to memorise it.)

Marje