10 



improve themselves ; when they 

 have bred they get more firm in their 

 flying qualities, and can be depended 

 on better. A fancier must every 

 year after breeding time, pick out 

 birds which are not up to the mark, 

 and then, in time, he will get a 

 first-class kit of birds that will fly 

 seven or eight hours with ease. 



Great care must be taken not to 

 turn them out on bad days in the 

 winter, or they will soon be lost. 

 The mist and snow has lost many a 

 good kit of birds, which could not 

 be replaced. Some fanciers keep 

 their stock in the place all the winter, 

 on account of the bad weather, and 

 a good plan too, for a good kit of 

 high-flying tumblers are never safe 

 in winter. 



Many years ago birds did not fly 

 so long as they do now ; five hours 

 was considered a very good fly. 

 The reason, I account for it, is be- 

 cause a kit of tumblers in those days 



