CHAP. IV.] TUMBLEES OF DIVEES COLOUES. 115 



that darling little cinnamon Tumbler, what a height it 

 is ! And now, seven times, I thought I counted, it 

 went over ; but whether it was over, or under, or round- 

 about, it would be difficult to say. Does your neck ache ? 

 Pray do not complain of it; greater folks than us, 

 when the Hawk and the Heron were trying to over- 

 reach each other, had to strain their eyes and necks a 

 great deal more to enjoy the sport, and had a chance 

 too of scratching out the one, or breaking the other, 

 by riding into a bramble-bush or a pit a danger we 

 are not likely to incur on this pleasant grass plot. But, 

 you see, the Fantails and the Runts are content to 

 decline these ambitious flights, and to make sure of 

 what grain they can while the chickens are being fed. 

 And now, as the Tumblers are descending to earth 

 again, the business of "The Dovecote " must proceed 

 more steadily. 



" Tumblers ; these are small," saith Willughby, 

 " and of divers colours. They have strange motions, 

 turning themselves backward over their heads, and 

 shew like footballs in the air." Among the prettiest 

 of them are what are called Kites, when purely, not un- 

 naturally bred. Kites, are those Tumblers which are 

 self, or whole-coloured, i. e., all black, or all cinnamon- 

 colour, in various shades, or all cream-colour ; there are, 

 besides, various " splashes," as myrtle-splash, cinnamon- 

 splash, &c. ' But, it will be perceived, that, at any dis- 

 tance from the eye, whole-coloured birds are by far the 

 most telling in a group, and the most ornamental, where 

 the birds are flown, and not mewed up in a loft all their 

 lives long. " The fancy" worship the Almond Tum- 

 blers, which are curious enough when minutely in- 

 spected; but a quotation from the Treatise will show, 



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