220 Fancy Pfcreons. 



have known very good ones bred from the best blue Engliah owls. Self 

 coloured, peak crested, black, 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 coloured 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 valuable. There is little 

 doubt that it owes all its quality to the African breed, and that but for 

 it, it would not be what it is. 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 owla from Tunis has not failed ; but 

 should it do so, it is a question if they would continue 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 ia 

 an additional reason why the large English owl should be cultivated. 



CHAPTER LXVI. 



THE WHISKERED OWL. 



This beautiful variety is of a medium size, between the Mricau and 

 English owls. Those I have seen were whole blue in colour, with the 

 usual black wing and tail bars. In head, beak, gullet, and general owl 

 properties they could only be called passable, and could not be com- 

 pared with the African variety. In friU, however, they were extraor- 

 dinary, their breasts being covered with it from butt to butt of wings. 



