The English Owl Pigeon. 217 



to Europeana ; and I cannot but believe that if, as Mr. Baily told me, 

 exporters have to employ a man about the mosques to catch such fine 

 birds as we have already received, others, showing still more of the 

 breeders' skill, must be in existence in the hands of fanciers. 



The Germans have named the Tunis owls JEgyptische Movchen (Egyptian 

 sea guUs). 



CHAPTER LXV. 



THE ENGLISH OWL PIGEON. 



The English owl, as it existed at the time the African variety was intro- 

 duced, could not be found so good in owl properties as at present, so that 

 the difference between the two varieties was then more marked than it 

 is now. The improvement has been effected by crossing with the Tunis 

 breed. There are not two standards for owls as regards shape of head 

 and beak, gullet, frill, &c. The difference between the two varieties 

 consists only of size and greater variety of colour. 



8iie. — The English owl is wanted as large as possible, so that it may 

 present a contrast with the African, as the pouter does with the pigmy 

 pouter. To gain size, it is said that crossing with the short-faced Ant- 

 werp, which is of owl descent, has been resorted to, and that the barb 

 has been used to give breadth of skull. I have seen English owls with 

 more beak and eye wattle than the pure breed could, in my opinion, have, 

 and which, instead of having had their value enhanced thereby, ought to 

 have been disqualified when exhibited, or at least ignored. I believe a 

 reaction has lately set in against excessively wattled owls. 



Colonr. — The English owl is self coloured, and exists in white, black, 

 red, yellow, dun, blue, silver, and in various off colours, as mealies and 

 chequers. Splashed owls are not regarded, except it may be locally, or 

 as stock birds. The blues and silvers are chiefly fancied and bred, and 

 the best English owla are of these colours. The blue should be of a 

 deep, sound, rich colour, even in tone, with broad black wing and tail 

 bars, and dark hackle, lustrous with green and purple hues. The sUver 



