112 TUMBLEES THEIR MERITS. [CHAP. iv. 



young she has reared have borne but little resemblance 

 to herself, and a marked one to their papa. 



And now for the TUMBLERS, the prettiest of the pretty. 

 In approaching them one had need have more courage 

 than Master Slender in the presence of sweet Anne 

 Page ; for the dealers and ultra-fanciers are standing 

 by, like so many duennas or chaperons over a supposed 

 marketable beauty or vendible heiress; and whatever 

 eloquence may escape the lips of the suitor who does 

 not quite answer their views, coolness and reserve are 

 the reception he must expect to meet with. But of all 

 the Doves that cleave the air, give me, in its unsophis- 

 ticated and vulgarly bred state, the pretty little Tumbler. 

 Birds at two or three shillings the pair are better than 

 those at two or three guineas, in spite of the Treatise ; 

 the learned author of which we may magnanimously 

 gainsay, without fear of contradiction, as he is long since 

 quiet in his grave. The Tumbler, whether you Frenchify 

 it as the Pigeon Culbutant. or Latinise it as the Colum- 

 la gyratrix, is sure to attract notice for its intrinsic 

 excellences. Do you want a bird to eat? It is as 

 good as any; a merit, though a humble one. It breeds 

 as freely, and with as little trouble ; and there is 

 nothing so neat and trim as it is among domestic birds, 

 not even the most perfect of the Sebright Bantams. 

 With its little round head and patting red feet, it is 

 exactly a feathered goody-two-shoes. And then, its 

 performances in the air ! beating all the Cordes Volantes, 

 or Tightrope Diavoli, into disgraceful inferiority. It is 

 decidedly the most accomplished member of the aerial 

 ballet. Pirouettes, capers, tours de force, and pas 

 d'agilite, all come alike in turn. Other Pigeons cer- 

 tainly can take any course in the air, from a straight 



