317 THE TUMBLER. 



pen, shape and feather are all that are looked for in the 

 Tumbler as a show pigeon. 



Macclesfield Tipplers. 



A well-known variety of the flying Tumbler is known as 

 the Macclesfield Tippler, which must only make single turns 

 in its flight. Some of these birds are very fine flyers, and 

 so rapid in their tumbling that the eye can scarcely follow 

 them. I believe the Tippler is of various colours, but there 

 is one especial marking which I have seen many of — that is, 

 white, with dark head, flights, and tail. The colour is 

 generally Kity-black, the flight feathers showing sometimes 

 black, brown, and white. The marking of the head is not 

 cut off sharply, like that of the Nun, but gradually dis- 

 appears in mottling, and there are sometimes grizzled feathers 

 on the neck, breast, and body. This variety breeds true to 

 these characteristics, but with some variation in colour of 

 points, and is known locally, I believe, as the Printed Tippler. 



Birmingham Rollers. 



In addition to such Tumblers as I have described, Moore 

 mentions the Dutch Tumbler, as " much of the same make, 

 but larger, often feather-leg'd, and more jowlter-headed with 

 a thin Flesh or Skin round the Eye, not unlike a very sheer 

 Dragoon ; some People don't esteem them upon this Account, 

 tho' I have known very good ones of the Dutch breed, not 

 any Ways inferior to what they call the English. Others 

 have remarked that they are apt to tumble too much, and to 

 lose Ground, that is, sink beneath the rest of the Flight, 

 which is a very great Fault, but I have obsei-v'd the same 

 by the English, and am apt to believe that most of the 

 extraordinary Feathers have been produc'd by mixing with 

 the Dutch breed ; for it is generally observ'd that the English 

 Tumblers are chiefly black, blue, or white." This is a good 

 description of what are now known as Birmingham Rollers, 



