The Mookee. 



125 



pigeons seemed to be the subject of universal interest. Among tliese 

 were two pens, quite new (and distinct as to variety), and which we 

 believe have never hitherto been shown at any public competition. We 

 allude to birds entered as ' Tailors,' why so called we know not, but are 

 informed the original parent birds were imported from the Canadas (under 

 that name) at an immense expense, by the late Earl of Derby, for the 

 Knowsley aviary. ' ' And then follows the description of them ; agreeing 

 with what I have given of the Sherajee, except as to mottled breast and 

 feathered feet, which shows them to have been merely sailors' pigeons, 

 though called "tailors," and no doubt they were bought in Liverpool 

 from some East India vessel, the Canadas not having any such stock to 

 part with. Again, at page 491 of the same volume, they are referred to 

 by Mr. Brent as follows : "I beg to second Mr. Eaton's appeal to pigeon 

 fanciers, and hope they will support the Anerley show ; and trust to see 

 some of the rare varieties there, such as laughers, silk fantaUs, taylors, 

 and others." 



In Brent's pigeon book, and in Eaton's 1858 treatise, the name of 

 "tailor" is dropped, and that of Lahore or martin substituted, the 

 former being given because Brent had found they came from that city, 

 and the latter on account of their resemblance in marking to the martin or 

 window swallow {Hinmdo iirhica). 



CHAPTER XLVIII. 



THE MOOKEE PIGEON. 



This is another Indian pigeon, of pure and distinct race, that has not 

 been unknown in British seaports, having a connection with the East 

 Indies during the past twenty or thirty years ; but which has not been 

 recognised as the narrow-taUed shaker of WiUughby'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 precedent (broad-tailed shakers) in shaking, but differ in 



