Morning journal and courier., 1883-01-24
Minerva's Bird in Fashion.
All Sorts of Stuffed Owls ip Lively Dem a n at Extraordinary Prices. From the Nav York Sup

All Sorts of Stuffed Owls in Lively Dem a nd
 at Extraordinary Prices.
 From the New York Sum-
 Ut is really surprising,n said the old Eng. fish taxidermist in William street the other day, "what an extraordinary demand has sprung up for owls this season. It has been good and gradually increasing for two or three years, but this winter it has exceeded anything ever knew before as rage for one particular variety of bird. Why, before the holidays, out of every ten people who entered my store, nine were after owls. When this year opened didn't have an owl left on hand except few little screech owls. Even now, although the call for them has slacken- ed off since the holidays whenever stranger comes in I find myself instinctively moving over toward the owls, expecting they are what is wanted. I don't know why the popular taste has rushed so in that direction any further than that it appears to be one of those inexplicable crazes that people do not try to account for further than by saying, It's the fashion But I have stocked up again with all sorts of owls, and am ready and willing for the craze to boom right along Prices? Why, better than ever before That great snowy owl, the largest and most beauti- full of the family, is worth $25. I have snowy owls as low as $15, SIP, and even $1O, but not such a superb specimen as that Yet used to be glad to get $S or $10 for the very best of them. Those great horned OWlS are WOFGn 61U 6AcQ. 1Q6 Daff6O, lO0Q- cared, and short cared owls (the latter some. times known as the swamp or meadow owl) are worth $4 each. Barred owls made into a screen are worth SC. They are not much wanted in fancy forms, however, either as screens or in flying attitudes. The owls strongest suit is his dignity, and he shows that best in repose. The screech owls are worth $2.5 50 each. The Arcadian owls are the smallest found in this section of the country, not bigger than quails and the Sawit owls, from somewhere away out West, are not more than half their size. They command pretty good prices, as they are rarer than the others, but still never anything like the big ones. All the fine large owls come from Canada as a rule, but this season two handsome snowy owls were shot over in Jersey City. Another was shot on Riker'S Hospital and another up by Bellevue Hospit al. Owls the only birds used for screens :? Oh no; not by any means. Herons, hawks and gulls are also used, and, indeed, many others. The handsomest is the white heron, which, when spread out so as to make 8 sort of halo of wings and tail while perched naturally on one leg, is worth $15. All the prices have named are for owls mounted complete and life like"
 Another taxidermist in Fourth street say he sells at least one owl 8 day, right along, and cannot get enough to supply the demand.
 MT. Reiche, the bird dealer, says that nothing is done in live owls; people only want them stuffed. In Germany some people look upon stuffed owls as talismans to bring good luck, and perhaps that notion has just broken loose over.here.
 Capt. William Fowler says the great in- crease of the owls popularity is due to the vast social, moral, and generally artistic and esthetic influence of the famous ''Owl club,' which is wont to gather in 'the hollow tree roost'' at the Knickerbocker Cottage at mid night, therein the language of the call for their recent dinner-"too cate, too drynke, too be merrie, to hoote ande too schreeehe f ye barne."