202 FANCY PIGEONS. 



red, and yellow Owls are sometimes called whole-coloured, 

 or solid Turbits; but the name Turbit is usually, and ought 

 only, to be applied to white Frilled Pigeons with coloui*ed 

 shoulders. 



The English Owl being wanted large, the hen generally fails 

 in this respect from looking so well as the cock, for the 

 same reason as in the African breed she often excels him; 

 but in conformation also, she is generally, as in all other 

 frilled races, except the African, much inferior, so that good 

 hens are rare. 



The English Owl is a variety which is now widely spread 

 and greatly fancied, so that choice specimens are very valu- 

 able. There is little doubt that it owes all its quality to the 

 African breed, which began to be imported into this country 

 about thirty years ago, as already mentioned. There were no 

 such English Owls as exist now twenty years ago, and much 

 still remains to be done with them; for, until both cocks and 

 hens that will bear comparison with the little foreigners in 

 all but size are produced, they cannot be said to have reached 

 their best state. 



Hitherto the supply of African Owls from Tunis has not 

 failed ; but, should it do so, it is a question if they would con- 

 tinue to exist in this country for any length of time, on account 

 of the delicacy of the breed. If they could not be kept up 

 here, unless by constant importations, it is an additional reason 

 why the large English Owl should be cultivated. 



During the past few years, since the first edition of this 

 book was published, great progress has been made in breeding 

 powdered English Owls, chiefly by Mr. Stephen Salter, who 

 informed me that he had used a half-bred Damascene, or 

 Mahomet, to improve the colour. There are now in existence 

 some powdered blue Owls nearly up to the standard of the 

 common blues and silvers, and greatly superior to the breed 

 that existed thirty years ago, regarding which, Mr. H. Weir 

 has lately said that I was mistaken in supposing that he 



