313 THE TUMBLER. 



turning at right angles in their flight, and throwing them- 

 selves about so rapidly that the eye can scarcely follow 

 their turns. High-flying Tumblers generally tumble only 

 when ascending or descending; but they sometimes go so 

 high in fact, quite out of sight that it is impossible to 

 follow them in their movements. I have watched them, on a 

 clear day, till they seemed no bigger than mites, and then 

 lost them altogether. Some remaining on the housetops are 

 seen by those in the air, and this tends to bring them down 

 sooner than they might otherwise come. Tumblers, when 

 allowed unlimited freedom, become lazy, and unwilling to fly, 

 and seldom fly in concert. 



Great care and much trouble are necessary in getting up a 

 good flight of Tumblers; birds that will not rise must be 

 weeded out. To insure success, the birds must be flown only 

 at stated times. The morning is the best time, before they 

 are fed; and after they return to their loft they should be 

 confined till late in the afternoon, or till next morning, 

 according to the wishes of their owner. To fly Tumblers 

 systematically is, indeed, a separate branch of the pigeon 

 fancy, which is only excelled in by such as lay themselves 

 out for it. I have known fanciers, including myself, buy 

 the best soaring birds that could be got, and I have seen 

 them gradually deteriorate for want of the necessary atten- 

 tion. Tumblers require special training for flying time 

 matches. Dried peas, and other grain, are considered the 

 best foods for them, as such take long to digest, and assist 

 in keeping up their strength during the time they keep 

 on the wing. Without such special foods they would be 

 unable to fly so long as they do. 



Mr. G. Smith, a breeder of high-flying Tumblers and 

 Tipplers in Nottingham, has lately published a little book 

 giving information, derived from experience, on this 

 fancy. 



