302 
The Illustrated Book of Plgeons. 
— by crossing' Blues and Silvers ; and it is most singular that, so far, crossing it with any of the 
small Foreign specimens seems to overpower it, and it dies out. This being the case, those are not 
to be condemned who see in such a beautiful and peculiar colour, and in the greater size and 
hardihood, good reasons for keeping up what they call the English Owl. 
It was about the year 1858 or i860 that some of the African Owls were first shown at the 
Crystal Palace. If we remember rightly, they were shown under another name, and occasioned 
some dispute through being claimed by one of the judges before the public were admitted 
to the show. Soon after, more were obtained, and it was at once seen that they were so far 
superior to the older stock, that these latter had literally no chance against them, and even 
hardly any claim to the title of a fancy pigeon. Then came a celebrated pair, which afterwards 
belonged to Mr. Sandy, and were much admired. These were said at the time to be the first pair 
of pure White Africans in this country, or at least shown here ; those shown at the Palace being 
Black-and-white, though we have been given to understand they afterwards bred some pure Whites ; 
but we have reason to believe specimens of the pure White African were in the possession of 
Mr. George Ure, of Dundee, so far back as 1838; his brother, who was captain of a ship, having 
brought him four pairs, two of which he sent to Mr. James Huie, of Glasgow. These therefore were, 
so far as we can learn, really the first White African Owls imported; but they died without leaving 
successors, so the strain at that time died out. Lately there have been many importations, and it 
is singular that so far they have been confined to Blacks, Blues, and Whites ; it is believed there 
are Reds and Yellows, but none have been positively reported, or reached this country. In marking, 
however, the Eastern fanciers have done a great deal. They have produced Blacks with white tails, 
Whites with black tails, Blues similarly varied, and we have also seen a few imported specimens 
marked like a Magpie, and so accurately and sharply as to look as if painted. 
What we have called the third variety, or Whiskered Owl, is of a medium size, and perhaps 
hardly deserves the name of a separate variety, though all we ever met with came from one strain, 
which its original owner called by that name. It was probably in the first instance a mere “sport." 
There are not many of them about, but they are really beautiful pigeons, showing in its fullest 
development that great point — the frill. How generally deficient frilled pigeons are in that 
characteristic point we have seen in the last chapter; but the frill, or, as some call it, the purle, is 
in many Owls beautifully formed. In the strain or variety we speak of, however, it is positively 
exaggerated, and, in a specimen from which we write this description, not only does the frill on the 
breast itself extend right up to the lower mandible, but further back, at the sides of the neck, is a 
second frill, nearly reaching round behind, and at first sight giving the idea of a cross with the 
Jacobin, only that the frill is different in character and turned the reverse way. If more bred and 
developed, this would make a very pretty and characteristic variety, and is well worth keeping up, 
if only for the sake of improving the deficient frill of other Owls. 
Having said this much on the different varieties, a little must be added on their status at 
shows. The Whiskered Owl can take its chance among the English birds ; but it is by no means 
easy to mark out any clear line of distinction between English and Foreign, at least whenever 
the English birds shall be bred as good as the Foreign, which we hope to see them. No fancier can 
wish to perpetuate the bird with its too long head and beak as at present, with so much higher a 
standard by which to appraise them. This leaves only the points of size and colour to distinguish 
them ; and even the latter is doubtful, since no one can say that the beautiful Powdered Blue may 
not by-and-by be produced among the small birds. All that can be said is that the African bird 
should be as small as possible, and the English at least twice the size usually seen in Foreign 
Whites. If the two classes are to be maintained — and we have seen reasons why this is desirable — 
