127 EAST INDIAN VARIETIES. 



if it does it soon recovers, for on being taken up during its 

 fluttering fit it becomes quiet, and when let fly it will at 

 once play up to its mate, if a cock, or commence to eat as if 

 nothing had happened. There is no variety in its exhibition, 

 which is rather unpleasing after being seen once or twice, 

 and those who keep Lowtans seldom put them through their 

 manoeuvres. 



One of the correspondents referred to, writing from Madras, 

 mentions two varieties of the Lowtan, one being the Kulmee, 

 or high caste kind, that would roll about on being merely 

 touched on the head or peak ; while the other kind, the Sadhee, 

 or Common Lowtan, required to be shaken as I have described 

 before it would perform. 



The other correspondent, writing from Rohilcund, had kept 

 the /ommon Lowtans for two years, and on inquiring for the 

 high caste, or Choteen Lowtans so called because they were 

 said to roll on the chotee, or turn crown, being touched he pro- 

 cured four specimens, all of which rolled on being struck on 

 the back of the head with the forefinger. One of them was 

 similar to his Common Lowtans ; another similar in appearance, 

 but Turbit marked, being white with dark shoulders; and the 

 other two had "great long legs, feathered to the toes." 



I never saw any of the kind that performed on being 

 merely touched, nor other than pure white ones. 



I saw a pair of White Lowtans two years ago, in one of the 

 pens, at a meeting of the National Peristeronic Society, in 

 London. No one knew what they were until I put them 

 through their peculiar performance, to the amusement of the 

 spectators. 



The breed is mentioned in the " Ain-i-Akbari," or " Institutes 

 of Akbar," written about the year 1600. 



East Indian Flying Pigeons. 



When passing through the streets of large cities in Northern 

 India, from an hour before sunset till dark, an observer may 



