86 PIGEONS. 



Some persons discriminate a variety which they call the 

 " narrow-tailed shaker;" but this is only a degenerate breed of 

 the fan-tail, or the result of a cross. Its neck is shorter and 

 thicker, back longer, and it has not so many tail feathers as the 

 broad-tailed shaker ; neither does it expand its tail so fully, but 

 keeps the feathers rather closed one over the other, so as to 

 resemble a fan when some little way open. The color of its 

 plumage is generally white ; but a few different tints, and even 

 an almond variety, are to be met with occasionally. 



These pretty pigeons are so called from their peculiar habit 

 of tumbling backwards in the air when on the wing; besides 

 which, they soar to so great a height as to be almost lost to the 

 view ; when flying, they congregate very closely together ; and 

 if they be good birds and accustomed to each other, they will 

 maintain such a compact flight, that a dozen may almost be 

 covered with a large handkerchief 



If the weather be warm and bright, they may be allowed to 

 wing their aerial gambols for four or fiv« hours in succession ; 

 but care must be taken, that no other species of pigeon mix 

 with them, for if they once become familiarised and fly with 

 others, they will gradually drop their highly-prized mode of 

 flight, and of course become worthless. They should never be 

 let out on a dull, heavy, misty morning, nor when a fog appears 

 to be rising, nor during a high wind ; as all such atmospheric 

 variations, by causing desertions from their lofts tend to 

 diminish the stock. A hen tumbler should never be allowed 

 to fly while with egg. 



The most esteemed tumblers do not somerset when swoop- 

 ing along, but only when they are beginning to rise, or when 

 coming down to pitch; and to preserve this, and the high-flying 

 properties in his stock, the provident fancier must spare no 

 expencein the purchase of one or two first-rate birds that have 

 been used to soaring, as they will be of much service in train- 

 ing the young ones. 



