123 EAST INDIAN VARIETIES. 



resemblance in marking to the Martin, or Window Swallow 

 (Hirundo urbica). 



The Mookee Pigeon. 



This is another Indian pigeon, of pure and distinct race, 

 that has not been unknown in British seaports having a con- 

 nection with the East Indies, during the past twenty or 

 thirty years ; but which was not recognised until I pointed it out 

 some years ago, as the Narrow-tailed Shaker of Willughby's 

 " Ornithology," published in London in 1676. Willughby says 

 of this kind : " Narrow or Close-tailed Shaking Pigeons 

 Anglice, Narrow-tailed Shakers. These agree with the pre- 

 cedent (the Broad-tailed Shakers) in shaking, but differ in 

 the narrowness of their tails, as the name imports. They 

 are said also to vary in colour. This kind we have not as 

 yet seen, nor have we more to say of it." Willughby had 

 this information, without doubt, from some pigeon fancier 

 who knew the breed, though he does not name his authority, 

 as he elsewhere names Mr. .Cope, of Jewin-street. 



When Moore wrote his " Columbarium," about sixty years 

 later, he described the Narrow-tailed Shaker, the last kind 

 mentioned in his book, as follows : " This Pigeon is reckon'd 

 by some a distinct Species, tho' I am apt to believe it is 

 only a bastard breed between the foregoing (the Broad-tail'd 

 Shaker) and some other Bird. Its neck is shorter and 

 thicker, its back longer, the Feathers of its Tail are not so 

 much spread out, but fall as it were double, lying over one 

 another, and the Tail generally lops very much." And thus, 

 from Moore onwards, every writer described the Narrow-tailed 

 Shaker as a crossbred Fantail, as no doubt the bird above 

 described was, Moore never having seen the true breed. But 

 it will be observed that Moore says : " This Pigeon is reckon'd 

 by some a distinct species." No pigeon fancier would reckon 

 a crossbred Fantail as a distinct species, so there were, 

 even in Moore's time, some who either knew, or had been 



