170 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Pigeons. The custom is to keep a male and a female Pigeon, if 

 not acquainted with each other, for five or six days together, 

 when they become so familiar that even after a long separation 

 they will again recognise each other. The hen generally lays 

 her eggs from eight to twelve days after coupling, or more if she 

 be small or sickly. Pigeons couple in Mihrmah (September — 

 October), and separate in Farwardin (February — March). A hen 

 lays two eggs, but sometimes onty one. The cock will sit upon 

 the eggs by daytime, and the hen during the night, and thus they 

 keep them warm and soft. In winter they hatch for twenty-one 

 days, but if the air be warm they only take seventeen or eighteen. 

 For about six days the Pigeons feed their young with falak, which 

 means grain reduced to pap in the crops of the old ones. After- 

 wards they feed them from the grain in their crops, which they 

 bring up before it is fully digested. This they continue for about 

 a month, and as soon as they see that the young ones can pick 

 up their own grain the old ones will go away. Eggs, or even 

 young ones, are sometimes given to other Pigeons to take care of. 

 Home-bred young ones are trained. Some are kept in a tor (?) 

 till they get stronger, and get acquainted with the place. As 

 soon as these two things have been attained the Pigeons only get 

 one-third or one-fourth of their daily allowance of food. When 

 they have got a little accustomed to hunger they are gradually 

 allowed to take flights. They take daily about forty hawas (air) — 

 i. e. forty flights. At this period the trainers pay no regard to 

 what is called charkh and bazi (vide below). Of feathers they 

 count ten, and if eight of them have fallen out the keepers no 

 longer allow the Pigeons to fly, but keep them at rest (khabanidan). 

 After two months the Pigeons get new feathers, and become very 

 strong; they are then again let off. This is the best time for 

 showing their skill. As soon as the Pigeons learn to perform the 

 bazi and the charkh they are sent to His Majesty for inspection, 

 and are kept for four months in readiness to exhibit their skill. 



Charkh is a lusty movement, ending with the Pigeon throwing 

 itself over in a full circle. If this circular turn be not completely 

 carried out the movement is called katif (shoulder), and is held 

 in no esteem. Bazi is the same as muallaq zadan (lying on the 

 back with the feet upwards and quickly moving round (in Hind. 

 kala). Some thought that the two wings (katif) meet, which 

 appears to the observer as if it were a muallaq ; but His Majesty 



