DOMESTIC PIGEONS 261 



breeding, and is transmitted to the offspring in accordance 

 with them. The young bird, almost as soon as it is on the 

 wing, starts to drop, with its tail elevated and wings held 

 up. It practises continually, soon getting the knack of turn- 

 ing completely over. The method of learning is exactly 

 what might be expected if tumbling were merely a habit, 

 ^h)ut there can be no doubt of a fundamental cause. 

 ^m The simplest form in which this phenomenon is seen is the 

 BCoMMON Tumbler. This bird is abundant everywhere, 

 Hpnd occurs in all colors. It is at its best flying about a 

 Bgarden, making its single or double turns. It will not fly 

 '^^for more than a few minutes at a time and is properly 

 known as a " boy's pigeon." 



From this bird, apparently, the several more advanced 

 forms have been developed. Those which both fly and per- 

 form come under two heads: the Birmingham Roller and 

 the West of England Tumbler. The Birmingham Roller 

 has been particularly specialized for performing, which it 

 does remarkably well. It makes a series of somersaults, 

 from four or five to twenty or more, so swiftly and clearly 

 that the eye can scarcely follow. When this is done by a 

 kit in unison the effect is most striking. 



In Birmingham, England, where the breed appears to 

 have originated, and where it is still extensively kept, the 

 greatest attention is given to kit flying. Competitions are 

 held at Christmas, in which the birds are judged for twenty 

 minutes only. All must pack together closely and roll in 

 unison. To get a kit to do this requires great patience 

 and rigid selection. Birmingham breeders do not approve 

 of high flying and endeavor to keep their birds low and 

 not too long on the wing. 



In America, on the other hand, the demand is for high 

 and long flying. That these two characters are not com- 

 patible with the best rolling is perfectly evident. Constant 



