THE L0WTAN OB GROUND TUMBLERS OF INDIA. 129 



we have to express our obligations to two correspondents for the following graphic 

 accounts of these breeds. The first gentleman, writing from Madras, under the 

 nom de plume of " Smooth-Bore," states : — 



" It may interest some of your readers to hear of a very peculiar pigeon, much 

 valued by the Mussulmans of this country. It is called Lotan in Hindustanee, 

 and its peculiarity consists in its tumbling on the ground instead of in the air. 

 When required to tumble, they are taken in the hand, the head slightly rubbed or 

 ' filliped ' with the finger, and then they are put on the ground, where they 

 continue to tumble until taken up. I have not seen them left on the ground until 

 their tumblings are completed, being invariably taken up after they have tumbled 

 about a dozen times. I should imagine they might injure or exhaust themselves if 

 left longer. The pigeons are always white, and although the wings are long and 

 pointed, they seem to have but small powers of flight. It is only lately I have 

 heard of these pigeons, although seven years in India ; but, on inquiry, they seem 

 to be not uncommon." 



In a subsequent letter our correspondent adds : — 



" Two days ago I got a pair of Lowtans from Madras. They are pure white in 

 colour ; the cock is smaller than a common pigeon ; the bill in front seven-eighths 

 of an inch long (the bill of a common white pigeon being only three-quarters of 

 an inch). The upper mandible appears to be more hooked at the extremity 

 than the same part in the common pigeon. The bill is of a very delicate, trans- 

 lucent-looking flesh colour. The eyes far back, round, and full. The head is 

 very long and flat in profile — in this, as well as I can remember, differing very 

 much from the ' model tumbler.' On the neck the feathers turn upwards, 

 forming a crest, which comes barely above the level of the top of the head : on 

 the lower part of the neck, from the point where the crest rises, the feathers turn 

 downwards and sideways for a short distance, so that there is a point on the neck 

 where the feathers turn in three directions. The legs are deep red; tarsus 

 naked on the back from the joint ; middle toe one and seven-eighths inches 

 long, the same length as that of the common pigeon. The wings are of the same 

 length, comparatively, as those of a common pigeon ; the cock carries his above the 

 tail. The tail is about as broad, and carried as I would expect in a common pigeon, 

 with a slight touch of a bad fantail. The neck and breast appear narrower and 

 less rounded than in the common pigeon. This may be more conspicuous from 

 the long head. What would be the hackle in a cock is a little rough all round the 

 front and sides of throat. The hen is much smaller than the cock ; she 

 carries her wings below the tail, and her toes are slightly feathered. If I have 

 left anything of importance out in the above description, I shall be happy to 

 supply the information requested. 



"None of my people, although I have several Mussulmans in my service, know 

 anything about these pigeons except the name. I therefore ordered somebody to 

 be brought to me who did. A Mussulman policeman was soon produced, and at 

 once recognized them as Lowtans. I told him to make them tumble. So, having 



