Novemher 26, 1674. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



483 



bird was by far the better in coloar. In hens the first pen was 

 a little the better in eye, yet the second was superior in coloar. 

 One or two good birds were highly commended. 



Passing on from birds of the past and present, we get a 

 glimpse of the future, and behold youthful promise very fairly 

 developed — a strapping fellow full of vigour and very even in 

 head points, showmg a great contrast between himself and 

 others ; this and the second-prize birds were Duns. 



Dragoons, Blue or Silver, were a very large class, so large that 

 the Committee could have afforded to have given an extra prize or 

 two ; if even only a third of 5s., there would still have been left 

 £5 on the class. The first was a Blue, well made, with beautiful 

 black bars, and a proper blue rump ; second a Silver of a very 

 fine soft colour, and well proportioned. A few commenda- 

 tions were given, yet many very good birds were unnoticed. 

 Yellow or Red. — The former beat the latter, both being first- 

 rate birds ; but so good was the class that almost every bird was 

 deserving of a prize. In the class for Any other colour a Grizzle 

 beat a White. These excepted, the class was nothing extra. 



iUmond Tumblers came next under notice, and a very fair col- 

 lection they were — ten birds, with nearly every property first- 

 class. The first-and-cup bird and the very highly commended 

 one were well broken, the former beating the latter and the 

 second pen in beak and head points. Almond hens were a small 

 class, and only contained three really good birds, properly 

 placed. Second very charming in colour. Tumblers, Any other 

 colour, comprised very good head-and-beak birds. First a little 

 gem of a Kite ; the second a Black Mottle, standing between two 

 much superior birds, a Yellow Mottle being one, which was not 

 mentioned. The hens were a very fair class, yet the Judge 

 again appeared to have forgotten that the class was more for 

 the head-and-beak birds tSian for the best Kite or Mottle. 

 Those low-headed and old-fashioned birds are of no use against 

 good head-and-beak birds. In Tumblers of this year a nice 

 little Red was first, and YeUow Mottle second. 



Barbs, cocks, any colour, a very grand Dun had an easy 

 victory, and a Black second ; only two more worthy of note. In 

 hens it was similar; a Black first and a YeUow second, the others 

 only middling. 



In Foreign Owls, Blue or Silver, Blues of course took both 

 prizes. White or any other colour proved a larger and better 

 class; White first and Black second. 



Trumpeters, Mottled, first-and-cup Dark, yet wanting in 

 coloar and feet feather. The second and highly-commended 

 birds left little to choose between, the former having the larger 

 rose, and the latter the better feet feathers. Pour very good 

 Blacks were in the " other variety " class, the first pen being 

 excellent in feet. 



Fantails, White, an excellent class, the same bird winning 

 that has been, I believe, either first or second for four or five 

 years. Many others with large and well-spread tails took the 

 other honours, yet some were coarse and wanting carriage. Any 

 other coloar, a small Bine was first, and a large coarse Silver 

 with ragged tail second, possessing nothing but coloar to recom- 

 mend it. 



Jacobins, Red or Yellow. — The class was large, but many very 

 indifferent birds were shown ; about a dozen, however, were 

 pretty fair, consisting of three or four good Yellows, and amongst 

 the remainder was a neat little Red hen, taking the first prize 

 and cap. She appeared to strike the eye of all by her closeness 

 of chain and compact appearance. The second-prize bird had 

 a good hood and chain with a nice short beak, yet lacking fresh- 

 ness of plumage. In Blacks some half-dozen decent birds con- 

 tested. First a little hen, good in all points ; second a very rich- 

 coloured and good-chained bird, rather coarse, but well cut. 

 One or two good birds were highly commended. The class for 

 Any other coloar contained, in addition to Whites, three Blues 

 and one Silver, Whites taking the prizes ; first large, second a 

 little marked. 



Turbits, Red or Yellow, a good class. First a Yellow, well 

 furnished ; second Red, small and better colour. Any other 

 colour a very fair class. First Silver, being very fine and soft 

 in colour, and well deserving its position, although a Black late 

 arrival, had it been in time, would have very much questioned 

 the Silver's honours. Second a Blue — small, clean, and neat. 

 Others, well-frilled and clean-cut, were highly commended. Red 

 or Yellow, rare specimens of this class took the first and second 

 prizes ; both birds were YeUow. Any other variety, a poor class ; 

 first and Black second. 



English Owls were a very large class, and many grand birds, 

 Silvers proving superior to Blues. 



The other classes — Magpies, Nuns, Antwcrps, common Tum- 

 blers, and the Variety class, did not call for any special comment. 



Although I have entered at some length into many classes, I 

 must not omit to mention that this liberal-minded Committee, 

 for such it is when it is remembered that they who are all Pigeon 

 fanciers, actually give classes for poultry. Canaries, and British 

 birds, and that, notwithstanding the discouragement of last year, 

 they are now in such a financial position as many a society 

 would envy. It was indeed pleasing to me to notice the many 



greetings of good old fanciers who perhaps had not seen each 

 other for at least a twelvemonth ; and the fact that at one time 

 on the opening day I could count at least a score of good Pouter 

 fanciers speaks a deal for that breed, and that it must be well 

 heard of in this locality in the future.— Impabtial. 



HIGH-FLYING TUMBLERS. 



Among the numerous fancies peculiar to Pigeon-keeping in 

 America there ia a very interesting and amusing one that has 

 been sadly neglected ; it is that of flying Tumbler Pigeons. By 

 that I mean training them to fly high and stay up for hours. 

 Several years ago ejuite a number of breeders in this city kept 

 a flight of such birds, but I beUeve the fancy has entirely de- 

 parted, until to-day there is not a good flock of high-flyers to be 

 found. I am told by an old fancier from across the seas that 

 in the city of Vienna, Austria, some years ago twenty thousand 

 birds were kept for this especial purpose, and in the early 

 morning hours of a clear day the sky would be filled with these 

 encircling flights of Pigeons. On the housetops would be seen 

 the different owners watching the evolutions of their respective 

 flocks, marking here and there a defective bird, as one not en- 

 titled to good company, but only fit for boys or the spit, and 

 again praising the performance of some extraordinary member 

 of the flock. The variety known as Balds is the favourite of 

 fanciers of this sport, and it does not matter as to coloar if the 

 bird is short or pleasant-faced, clean cut, and of good staying 

 qualities. 



In the matter of tumbUng authorities differ, some favouring 

 birds that tumble as they rise and fall, others claiming that 

 they must not tumble or they will bring down the flight. In 

 raising a flight of Tumblers one wants to be particular if it is 

 the bald-headed variety, and mate only well-marked and good- 

 coloured birds, as this is one of their attractions ; if their flying 

 qualities are known, good flyers should also be mated together, 

 for if one is an indifferent flyer and the other a good one, the 

 weaker of the two will have a tendency to injure the flying 

 quaUties of the other by inducing it to settle or fly low. This 

 raising of a good flight of high-flyers is not the work of a day or 

 month, but it is only attained after many months of patient 

 watching and experimenting. 



The room in which they are kept should be furnished with 

 an area or trap for letting the flight loose, and also furnished 

 with loopholes and bolt-wires, so arranged that although they 

 will allow a Pigeon to enter, it cannot get out unassisted. The 

 loft should be made as attractive for them as possible, by fur- 

 nishing it with plenty of clean water, feed, gravel, and rock salt, 

 or salt cat, so that when they are let out they may give all their 

 attention to flying, and not be searching around for something 

 to gratify their appetites ; a dish for bathing should also be 

 provided, that their plumage may be in fine clean condition ; in 

 fact, every want should be supplied, and their home be made as 

 attractive as a Pigeon-loft can be. It is a peculiarity of these 

 birds to fly to a great height, and it is necessary for the fancier 

 to be present when they are let out, that he may know each 

 individual bird, and mark those for breeding and flying that rise 

 to the greatest height. Thus, by careful selection from his 

 young stock, he can establish a flight of a dozen or so birds that 

 will cheer his heart and do him great credit. 



But we will suppose the fancier has worked patiently for 

 years, and has finally established a respectable flock. We go with 

 him some bright May morning to the home of his feathered 

 favourites ; they have learned his step so well that, as soon as 

 we reach the entrance, and before the door is opened, we can 

 hear their delighted fluttering ; they well know that the hand 

 that turns the key in the look never comes except it brings them 

 some dainty to feast on. This time their treat is canary seed, 

 and as their master scatters it around they eagerly seize it, and 

 never leave off the search until every grain is devoured. But 

 we have come to give them a fly. At this time of the day they 

 know what the visit means, and as soon as the trap is opened 

 they are ready and off. As I have said, it is a morning in May, 

 the air soft and balmy, the skies bright and clear, unflecked 

 even by a passing cloud. The birds feel the influence of the 

 invigorating air, and rise in circles higher and higher, their 

 bright clean plumage glistening in the sunlight, their peculiar 

 markings showing to the greatest advantage. Now one throws 

 a somersault, but it is so neatly done that he never leaves the 

 flight ; again, another shows his agiUty, and so they keep soar- 

 ing and tumbUng, and yet all so close together that your pocket- 

 handkerchief could cover them; but your neck begins to ache 

 from so constantly gazing upward, and you turn to earth awhile 

 to relieve the strain upon it. 



In commenting on the qualities of the favourite birds an hour 

 slips away, and when you again turn your eyes heavenward 

 nothing but empty space meets your gaze. Where are they ? 

 What has become of them? Have they settled on some 

 neighbouring roof ? No ! you look again, and away up as far as 

 you can see, a number of glistening specks greet your eyes, and 

 as you continue to look the forms of the birds descending come 



