THE OWL. 141 



render them most attractive ; so that when they como into competition with the 

 old-fashioned larger English Owls, they never fail to secure the prizes. This, 

 perhaps, is a circumstance to be regretted, as the old powdered-blue and silver 

 Owls are birds of extreme beauty, and should not be suffered to pass away. But 

 whether distinct classes for English and foreign Owls are desirable or not is 

 a moot point with committees and exhibitors. But it appears that if separate 

 prizes for each were offered, the breeder of the English birds would improve them 

 by crossing with the African, and it would then be impossible to draw the Hue 

 between them. 



These small African Owls breed freely, but, as might be expected from their 

 recent introduction from so warm a climate as the north of Africa, they are delicate 

 birds, and in winter suffer from the cold of our ungenial climate. It would be 

 interesting to know more respecting their history, but beyond the facts above stated 

 we can give no further information. 



Following the plan laid down in the " Standard of Excellence," authorized by 

 the Poultry Club, * it has been suggested that the points of excellence in these 

 birds should be as follows, so as to keep the total to the same number — fifteen — 

 for all varieties of poultry and pigeons. The old number of five points for 

 each variety is too small, and too incapable of subdivision to be of service for all 

 varieties. 



Head, 2; eye, 2; beak, 3; gullet, 2; colour, 2; size, 2; frill, 2— Total, 15. 



Since the first introduction of these small foreign Owls, a variety with a singular 

 modification of plumage has been imported. In these birds the tail is dark, the 

 remainder of the plumage being perfectly white. It is doubtful whether this breed 

 has been established for any great length of time, as the birds do not always breed 

 true to markings, or even colour. 



* The "Standard of Excellence in Exhibition Birds" is reprinted as an Appendix to the 

 Pouukt Book. By W. B. Tegetmeier. London : G. Routledge & Sons, 1807. 



