128 THE PRACTICAL PIGEON KEEPER. 



always necessary to keep down the white, which constantly 

 tends to encroach or predominate : and hence a bird even 

 perfectly marked has generally to be matched with one 

 possessing scarcely enough white ; whilst too " gay " a Mottle 

 may have to be matched to a Whole-feather, and too heavily- 

 marked a Beard, or too low-cut a Baldhead, to birds with a 

 short number of nights or with slightly foul thighs. It may, 

 however, be added that there are strains of Beards which do not 

 tumble, but which are capital long distance flyers, being very 

 fast and sure up to over a hundred miles. These long-faced 

 flying Beards, however, are seldom so good as pleasant-faced, 

 but more approach in head the type of the German Toys. 



Of actual tumbling pigeons there are several varieties, even 

 in performance, which are well understood and specially culti- 

 vated in some neighbourhoods, particularly those of Newcastle 

 and Birmingham. It is first to be understood that the 

 "tumble" is a complete backward somersault in the air. 

 Tipplers throw only one such at a time, but repeat such 

 detached performances frequently during their flight. Tum- 

 blers often make two, three, or more backward revolutions 

 without stopping. And lastly, there is the true Birmingham 

 Roller, which turns over backwards with inconceivable rapi- 

 dity through a considerable distance, like a spinning ball. 

 These are varieties of what may be termed strictly flying 

 Tumblers, the performance being gone through whilst the birds 

 fly in mid-air, and often at a very great height ; but there are 

 also what are termed house Tumblers, which spring up a few 

 inches from the floor of the loft, turn one complete somersault, 

 and alight on their feet again. Some of these birds will also 

 tumble many times while flying in the loft or aviary. Finally, 

 Mr. Tegetmeier has described, under the name of Lowtan, or 

 Lotan, a very peculiar variety of Tumbler, cultivated in India. 

 These birds do not tumble of their own accord, but are taken 

 by the neck between two fingers, given a slight shake, and 



