126 FANCY PIGEONS. 



such as dark dun on head, neck, and tail, yellow mottled 

 shoulders, and white ground. I have seen them of this rare 

 combination of colours, and I believe other three coloured 

 varieties exist, such as black marked ones with red mottled 

 shoulders. The Goolee is clean-legged, walks on tip-toe 

 when proud, trails its wings, and has the carriage of a good 

 Almond Tumbler. There are in Bengal as many degrees in 

 quality in this variety as there are here between the best 

 Short-faces and Common Flying Tumblers. The choicest birds 

 can only be seen in the possession of experienced breeders, 

 and are never offered for sale in the bazaars. The Goolee 

 shares with the Sherajee the position of chief favourite 

 among Calcutta pigeon fanciers, some preferring the former, 

 others the latter. Fine specimens of both kinds fetch long 

 prices. 



The Lowtan Pigeon. 



The Lowtan is indeed a curiosity among Pigeons. It is a 

 native of India, and was quite unknown among fanciers in 

 Britain until some letters regarding it, from Indian corre- 

 spondents, were published in the Meld newspaper. These may 

 be found in Tegetmeier's book, and give a good account of 

 it. I knew the Lowtan very well in Bengal, and have seen many 

 of them. In size they were the same as the common Field Pigeon, 

 and all I have seen were pure white, with a turn crown. Their 

 eyes were dark hazel, their legs and feet unfeathered, and in 

 general appearance they were quite common-looking pigeons. 

 To make the Lowtan perform, it is laid hold of across the back, 

 held horizontally, and shaken smartly from side to side three 

 or four times. This seems to put it into a fit, for, on being 

 placed on the ground, it immediately turns head over tail 

 till exhausted; but it is generally picked up after fluttering 

 about for a short time, as there is a belief that it would die 

 if left alone, though this is not the case. Whether the Lowtan 

 suffers pain or not when made to roll about I cannot say, but 



