THE PIGEON BOOK 93 



frill on their breasts and Owl type of head, especially 

 in the Li^ge strains of birds. Colour stands for a good 

 deal with some judges in the Owls; blue should be a 

 distinct blue, while the powdered blue is not nearly such 

 an attractive bird as either the silver or the yellow. There 

 are classes for any other varieties of Owls besides the 

 ordinary blues and silvers — in fact, I have seen very good 

 Owls in chequers. 



As much that applies to the breeding of the African 

 Owl also applies to the English Owl, both in feeding and 

 management, I think that any further reference to this 

 subject can be left to the pen of Mr. Burgess. 



The African Owl.— By John L. Burgess. 



This is one of the smallest and most charming varieties 

 of pigeons in existence. By some persons, and occasionally 

 in show catalogues, it is termed the Foreign Owl, but this 

 is most misleading, as there are several other varieties of 

 Foreign Owls, including the Oriental Owl and the Chinese 

 Owl. 



The African Owl was originally imported from North 

 Africa about 1858, but many years elapsed before they 

 became at all common in England, probably owing to the 

 great difference of climate. 



These charming little birds are said to have been largely 

 bred by the Mahomedans, who looked on them as sacred 

 pigeons, and no doubt they brought them from the East 

 to the northern parts of Africa. 



Let me at once impress upon my readers that the Afri- 

 can Owl is now fully accustomed to our changeable 

 climate, and is by no means delicate. My lofts are situ- 

 ated on the Cotswold Hills about 400 feet above sea-level, 

 and the birds have their liberty in large flights fully 

 exposed to the elements. 



