From time to time this writer gets inquiries on just where did the Indian
Fantail originate from. The history of the breed has been published many
times over the course of time,but since it is indeed an interesting story,in
this month's column I will once again write the research I did nearly 20
years ago. "The Indian Fantail
undoubtedly is of Indian origin and of very ancient descent, it shows every
evidence of being of a distinct pure race."(Fulton) Moore says,"this pigeon
is reckoned by some as a distinct species and certainly the progenitor
of the modern Fantail." Authorities of the
18th and 19th century agree that the Indian Fantails were the founders
of the modern Fantails. Then one might speculate that fanciers of that
era decided to eliminate these characteristics such as crested heads and
feathered feet. Hardly a breed of horse, dog, pigeon, or fowl resembles
its kind of 50 years ago let alone several hundred years ago. In 1956 this
writer had the privilege of corresponding with a school teacher from India.
One of the Interesting antedotes that this gentleman related to me was
the White Sacred Indian Fantails of the temple. Since all life in
India is sacred, the Indian Fantails found solitude among the canaled roof
tops and temples. A photograph sent to me depicting Indians along the Ganges
River and published in the APJ several years ago proves that the Indian
is also at home in the wilds. The Indian Fantials
of India are not in anyway comparable to our modern American birds, simply
because ours are breed for exhibition and not for flying. Indian birds
show small scoop tails and are rather smaller than their American cousins.
Just how they got into the U.S. is fairly clouded; some arrived at the
San Diego Zoo with a shipment of Reptiles as food for the snakes, lucky
the reptiles were not eating at that time! I imported four
pairs from Asia, Whites and AOC's back in the 50's. How the Indian Fantail
evolved in the American Pigeon Fancy,how the promotion of the breed developed
and where the Indian Fantail is headed will be saved for another column.
Now at least we have a more precise knowledge of these events compared
to early acounts of this magnificent breed.
APJ,June 1977
Indian fantail Views
By Tony Brancato
Tracing
the early development of the Indian Fantail to India and the intoduction
to the United States as stated before is not all fact nor fiction. The
breed has been in the United Kingdom as early as the 18th century Interest in the
Indian Fantail did not begin to take impetuous until a fancier in California,
Harvey Gatlin began to breed for certain colors, and promote the breed.On
the East Coast the breed had its counterpart of Harvey Gatlin, then a lad
of 14 who began an ambitious promotional campain of the Indian Fantail.
That young fancier went on to work on saddles and the perfection of whites
and became the writer of a monthly column on Indian Fantails! The first Indians
exhibited on the East Coast were shown at the Danbury Connecticut Pigeon
and Poultly show causing little excitement and a lot of snide jokes (1959).
In 1962 this writer moved to California and sent all 150 of his Indians
to Harvey Gatlin, who then selected the very best and used them in
his stud to develop our present day strain of Indians. A club was Organized
and the promotional campain has never ceased. However in fairness to the
Indian Fantail, the breed is responsible for a lot of its popularity; simply
because it is attractive, gentle, easy to breed and challenging to say
the least. Madison Avenue advertisers could not accomplish a popular breed
if the breed just doesn't have it.The Indian Fantail sells itself in that
it attracts a wide spectrum of fanciers each year.The strong hold being
the West Coast and middle West; the East Coast and South are still not
Indian country but there are some breakthoughs. In conclusion, a
lot has been left out of this article, simply because of lack of space.
Others desever recognition as taking the Indian from the early 1960's and
pushing it to new heights of popularity; I hesitate to name some for fear
of leaving someone out unintentionally. Perhaps in another column we can
look at the modern day champions of the breed who have contributed to make
the Indian Fantail an exciting pigeon to breed, exhibit, and keep.