323 THE TUMBLER. 



the Beard viz., blacks, all coloured except the primary flights, 

 which were white and they bred true. And when Beards are 

 once got full-flighted and dark-thighed, they will breed true 

 after a time, though it may be difficult to fix such marking 

 without trouble. Standards of excellence in pigeons should 

 be standards difficult of attainment, and they should also be 

 artistically beautiful to entitle them to support. Although 

 the Beard ought to be entirely dark-thighed, there is always 

 some white where the feathers finish off at the hocks ; but the 

 less of this the better. The Beard ought to have pearl eyes, 

 and, as the whole head above the eyes is coloured, this is not 

 a difficult point to maintain. 



Among blue Beards, the hens were formerly always smoky 

 in colour, and I have never seen any of a good bright blue. 

 This fault appears to be in the breed, as it is in some other 

 breeds of blue-marked pigeons. It might possibly be eradi- 

 cated by crossing blue Beard cocks with good coloured 

 all blue hens; but as such experiments take years to com- 

 plete, and the result is so remote, and the reward so uncer- 

 tain, who will be at the trouble of it, neglecting what 

 might truly be reckoned more important work in the fancy P 

 Black, blue, and silver Beards, of the common flying Tumbler 

 type, were, when I kept them in my boyhood, capital flyers 

 and tumblers. 



A flight of Balds and Beards, assorted in colour, is a 

 pretty sight; in clear weather the white markings tell well 

 against the coloured body at a considerable height in the air- 

 To make them fly high, and well together, however, they 

 require all the attention necessary in raising a flight of 

 Tumblers, and must not be allowed continual liberty, other- 

 wise they will give little satisfaction as high flyers. 



For those who employ feeders for all small, high- 

 class pigeons, they answer every requirement, being careful 

 nurses and breeders the year through, except in the 

 depth of winter; and, when kept for this purpose alone, 



2r2 



