105 

 247. — Its plumage (*) is always entirely white, blue, or black (f) 



draw the line as to whether they are blue or silver ; the same difficulty often occur 

 with reference to other Pigeons as regards colour (where to draw the line), whether as 

 bird is a yellow or a red. Provided you showed an Owl, concealing the bars while 

 showing the bird, and then asked its colour, the answer would be "silver ;" but if you 

 showed the bars, then it would be "blue." It would be as consistent to show a good 

 sound blue Pouter, and, simply because it is kite-barred instead of black-barred, to call 

 it a silver. I have heard Fanciers go so far, and say an Owl is not an Owl unless it 

 has the beautiful, soft powder-blue in it ; Who wants the blue in a white Owl ? Be- 

 sides, the Owl did not derive its name from feather. 



246. (Beent.) — This Pigeon is frequently confused with the Turbit, and to an un- 

 initiated eye the difference is not very perceptible. I think there are points of manners 

 or natiu-al disposition that make a greater distinction between them than mere form. 

 Their name is derived from their wild and shy manner, and for their preference foj^ 



secluded nesting places ; also from their beak being rather hooked ; thus, with their 

 bolting eyes and wild look, slightly resembling an owl. 



246. (Brent.) — The Owl differs from the Turbit in having a rounder head, a slighter 

 and rather more hooked beak, a more prominent eye, of a pearl colour ; the frill or 

 purle is shorter, more compact and somewhat rose-shaped ; the gullet is not quite so 

 fully develeped. 



246. (Brent.) — There are, or are reported to have been, whole-coloured Turbits, 

 which I suppose have been incorporated witn the present breed of Owls, which causes 

 them to be less distinguishable. 



246. (Brent.) — Their plumage is whole-coloured, usually blue, silver, or chequered, 

 though there are some few black, white, and yellow, and I have seen some mottled ; 

 but none of these equal the first three colours for flying ; the latter being mere fancy 

 birds, while the former are flyers of considerable powers. 



246. (Brent.) — The so-called Antwerp Carrier has frequently much of the Owl 

 blood in it, and I am inclined to believe that the Owl was the Pigeon almost exclusively 

 used in Belgium for flying, previous to the reclamation of the wild mealy Eock, which 

 forms the basis of the true Antwerp Carrier. 



246. (Brent.) — The blue Owls are very pretty, being of a clear sky blue, with 

 black wing bars ; they breed well, but unless rendered tame and sociable by familiarity 

 and kind attention, are liable to fly off their nests if disturbed. 



246. (Brent.) — The Germans call them '^Moven," "Movchen," or "Lutticher- 

 brief-trager." 



246. (Brent.) — The French name, I think, is " La cravate," or " Pigeon h, gorge 

 fris^e ;' these names may also apply to the Turbit, but I am not sure. 



246. (Brent. — In answer to "J. B. P.'s" question respecting the Owl Pigeon, I 

 have only to say, the original Owls were undoubtedly smooth-headed, and either blue or 

 silver coloured, consequently I should regard them as the purest. Turned crowns and 

 other colours have been introduced by particular breeding, and have been perpetuated 

 tin such birds come to be considered as true-bred ; but are esteemed more for variety 

 and rarity than for purity. 



* 247. (Mayor, p. 126.) — The feathers on the breast open and reflect both ways, 

 expanding itself something like a rose, which is called the purle by some, and by 

 others the frill, and the more the bird has of that the better, with a gullet reaching 

 down from the beak to the frill. 



t 247. (Mayor, p. 126.)— Or yellow, &c., except some that are chequered. The 

 blue ones should have black bars across the wings, and the lighter they are in colour, 

 particularly in the hackle, the more they are valued. These birds should have their 

 breeding places made so that they may sit in private, as mentioned under the head of 

 building a loft, for they are very wild, like the Carrier, and apt to fly off their eggs if 

 in the least disturbed. 



