Symbols of wisdom (4)
I believe the answer is:
owls
'symbols of wisdom' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for owls that I've seen before include "Wise old birds - quite slow" , "Slow (anag) -- birds of prey" , "Avian symbols of wisdom" , "Night birds" , "Members of Parliament" .)