CHAPTER XLVI. 



THE LOWTAN PIGEON. 



The lowtan pigeon is indeed a curiosity amonj^ pigeona- It is a native 

 of India, and has never been brought to this country so far as I know. 

 It was quite unknown here, until some letters regarding it, from Indian 

 correspondents, were published in the Field newspaper. These may be 

 found in Tegetmeier's book, and they 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 aU I have seen 

 were pure white with a turn crown, neither peak nor sheU headed, but 

 something between the two. Their eyes were dark hazel, their legs 

 and feet unfeathered, and in general appearance they were nothing more 

 than sixpenny common 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 

 laying it on the ground it immediately turns head over tail till ex- 

 hausted, 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 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 onoe 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 KvXtnca 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 



