FANTAILS— rURBITS—O WI.S—TUMBLERS. 218 



The tUird group -is artificial, inohidiii;; a heterogenous colloction of distiuol 

 forms. It may be defined by the beiilj, in well-oharaoterized specimens of the 

 d:tiereut races, being shorter than in the Bock pigeon, and by the skis around 

 the eyes not being much developed. It includes the races of Fantails, Turbits 

 and Owls, Tumblers, Indian Frill-backs and Jacobins. 



The Fcmtaila (Bace V.) are represented by the sub-race of Euiropeam FamtaUi, 

 in which the tail is expanded after the manner of that of the strutting male 

 turkey or peacock ; tlie oil-gland is aborted ; the body and beak rather short. 

 The number of the tail-feathers is used as a characteristic for the dififerent vari- 

 eties ; it varies from twelve up to thirty-two or thirty-four, the normal number 

 of the genus Cohtmba being twelve. The neck is thin and broad backward ; the 

 breast broad and protuberant ; the feet small. The carriage of the Fantails is 

 very different from that of other pigeons. In good birds the head touches the 

 tail feathers, and the birds walk in a stiii" manner, while the neck has a convul- 

 sive, trembling motion. 



A second sub-race of Fantails is also found in Java, The tail is less devel- 

 oped than the preceding, and the oil-gland is not aborted. Fantails were 

 known in India previous to 1600, and it seems probable that the Java Fantail 

 represents the breed in its earlier and less improved condition. 



The TurbUs and Owls (Race VI.) have divergent feathers along the front of 

 the neck and breast; the beak is very short, and rather thick vertically; the 

 oesophagus somewhat ei^larged. The Turbits and Owls differ from each other 

 slightly in the shape of the head ; the former have a crest, and the beak is AHj 

 ferently carved. The feathers in the front of the neck diverge irregularly, like 

 a frill, and the birds have the habit of continually and momentarily inflating 

 the upper part of the oesophagus, which causes a movement in this frill. The 

 Pouter inflates both the true crop and the oesophagus; the Turbit inflates, in a 

 much less degree, the oesophagus alone. ^ 



The TumMers (Baee VII.) have the habit of tumbling backwards during flight. 

 The body is generally small ; the beak short, sometimes excessively short and 

 conical. This race includes four sub-races, namely : The Persian, Lotan, Com- 

 nwn, and Short-faced Tumblers, and these sub-races include many varieties which 

 breed true. 



1. PersUm TwnMers. — ^The birds of this sub-race are rather smaller than the 

 wild Bock pigeon, wUte and mottled, and slightly feathered on the feet. 



2. Lotan, or Indian Gvmmd Tumblers. — White, slightly feathered ofi the feeti 

 with the feathers on the head reversed. When gently shaken and then placed 

 on the ground immediately, they begin tumbling heels over head, and only atop 

 when taken up and soothed by blowing in their faces. This habit was recorded 

 before the year 1600. 



3. Common English Twmblers. These birds are rather smaller than the Persian, 

 and have the same habits, but tumble better, sometimes spinning round and 

 round in the air like a wheel. Some varieties begin tumbling almost as soon aa 

 they can fly ;.at three months old they tumble well, but still fly strong; but by 

 the second year they tumble so excess'ively that they mostly give up flying. 

 The tumbling seems to be an involuntary movement, over which the birds have 

 no control, although they seem to try to prevent it. Sometimes, when trying to 



