14.0 PIGEONS. 



The work ascribed to Girton merely gives the same facts as those of the Treatise, 

 condensed into a short paragraph. And the Rev. E. S. Dixon, being unable to 

 see any distinction, except colour, between the Owls and the Turbits, described 

 the latter only, and hesitated to give the Owls any paragraph to themselves. 



The only birds known as Owls until a very recent period, were birds of moderate 

 size, characterized by their short hooked beaks, round heads, with prominent eyes 

 and well-developed frill, or purle, on the breast. In colour they were generally 

 either blue or silver, though black, white, and yellow birds were not uncommon. 

 The blue birds were of a very peculiar hue, and had the neck feathers sprinkled 

 with a lighter colour, which gave them a very handsome appearance, and led to 

 the name of "Powdered-blue Owls," which was frequently applied to them. These 

 birds were active and rapid flyers, and amougst the most beautiful of the more 

 natural varieties. 



Recently, a new variety has come upon the scene. At one of the shows held at 

 the Crystal Palace, some eight or ten years since, a pair of exquisitely beautiful 

 birds of a white colour, and very small in size, were shown in the variety class as 

 Booz pigeons, from Tunis. They were exhibited by Mr. Vernon Harcourt, the 

 gentleman who imported them into this country. The slightest inspection showed 

 them to be white Owls of the most diminutive size, and possessing the properties 

 or characters of the breed to a degree far surpassing the larger English specimens. 



Strictly speaking, perhaps these birds should not have been noticed in the class 

 in which they were exhibited, as they" ought to have been shown in the class for 

 white Owls ; but no fancier could be found to object to the award of the first prize 

 which was bestowed on them by Messrs. Cottle and Bellamy. This was the first 

 introduction of African Owls into England ; since that time numerous importations 

 of white, blue, and black specimens have taken place. 



One great character of African Owls is extreme diminutiveness. A pair, though 

 in perfect health and good condition, will weigh less than one pound, first-class 

 birds being as small as to weigh only seven ounces each. The length of a very 

 good specimen -may be stated at eleven inches, measured from the tip of the beak 

 to the end of the tail, when the neck is extended ; and the length of the beak, 

 measured in the usual manner from the front of the eye, is less than three- 

 quarters of an inch. The plumage is soft and delicate, the inner flight-feathers 

 being carried rather high on the back when the wing is closed. The rose or purle 

 on the breast should be regular and open, but the chief peculiarities are in the 

 head. This should be small and round, and should gradually merge, as it were, 

 into the short hooked beak. The eye should be very large, full, and expressive ; 

 the iris dark. In many of the imported specimens the head is flat at the top ; 

 this gives a longer appearance to the beak, and detracts very much from the 

 beauty of the bird. 



It is almost impossible to imagine any more beautiful birds than these exquisite 

 little toys ; their small size, the beauty of their form, their exceeding gracefulness, 

 the purity of the colour in the white, and regularity of markings in the blue, 



