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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ AuguBt 11, 1870. 



the ineide of the shell of the almond nut. Having this as the 

 ground colour, the whole of the body should be neatly and 

 evenly pencilled, not splashed or spangled, with a clear black. 

 This should be the case particularly on the neck and rump. 

 Each feather in the nights and tail should be evenly and dis- 

 tinctly broken with the three colours — black, white, arid the 

 yellow or ground colour. The feathers should be tight and 

 compact, and a bright glossy hue overspread the whole of the 

 body, the beautiful effect of which, when the bird stands in a 

 ray of sunlight, can readily be imagined. We have omitted to 

 state that any tinge of blue about the tail, or, in fact, on any 

 part of the bird, is very detrimental, at once showing that it is 

 not well bred. The hen should be similar to the cock in every 

 respect, due allowance, of course, being made for the sex ; the 

 hen in every variety being never so bold in appearance, and 

 always more delicate in structure than the cock bird. The 

 great and insurmountable difficulty, however, with the Almond 

 Tumbler hen is to get the proper ground colour sufficiently 

 broken. A hen up to the standard in all points would realise 

 a small fortune. 



Whilst upon the subject of feather, it will be perhaps as well 

 to notice the great variety in colour that is produced by these 

 birds, such as Kites, Duns, Red and Yellow Whole-feather, 



Splashes, and Agates, the latter term being applied to all birds 

 which have the red or yellow feather more or less inter- 

 mingled with white, after the manner of what are known as Gay 

 Mottles. Kites are black birds, with a brilliant metallic lustre 

 pervading the feather; and the flight and tail feathers are 

 tinged with red or yellow, which is termed " Fiery." These 

 birds generally run better in head and beak than the Almonds, 

 and are most useful for breeding purposes. In fact, it is totally 

 impossible without them to maintain strength of feather. 

 Splashes generally run very light in the ground colour, with 

 the black very considerably and unevenly intermixed. These 

 birds, especially the hens, are ako most valuable for obtaining 

 a good break of feather. Birds of nearly all the above varieties 

 of colour now make their appearance with success in the 

 "Shortfaced, any variety," class at most of our large exhi- 

 bitions. 



In conclusion, although we have already been far too lengthy 

 in our notice, we should like to add a few words in reference to 

 breeding. We firmly believe that a false impression exists 

 respecting the great delicacy of these birds, and the difficulty, 

 nay, almost impossibility, of raising progeny irom them. We 

 wish distinctly to state, more particularly for the encouragement 

 of those who otherwise have an inclination to enter the fancy, 



that all such fears are groundless. The birds are, or should 

 be, as robust as any variety of fancy Pigeon we have ; and in 

 illustration of this we may perhaps be allowed to state that a 

 member of the Birmingham Columbarian Society kept a few 

 of these birds in an open aviary, certainly with a southernly 

 frontage, for a space of eight or nine years winter and summer, 

 without any other protection from the weather than the roof, 

 and no birds could possibly be healthier than they were., having 

 during the time never had the slightest ailment. We also know 

 on reliable authority of a collection of fancy Pigeons of all 

 kinds being sent to Canada, and all, we believe, with the excep- 

 tion of the Almonds, Buccnmbing to the rigorous winter which 

 followed. And these were birds of the highest quality as to 

 standard properties. With regard to breeding, a little more 

 attention is no doubt required for the Almond than for other 

 varieties. This is particularly the case at the times of hatching, 

 and shifting the young under the feeders ; but this little extra 

 attention, instead of being a trouble, is rather a pleasure to 

 the ardent fancier. For the information of would-be fancier?, 

 we will give a simple plan in regard to breeding which baB 

 been found not only effective, but remarkably successful. The 

 first and most important matter in Almond breeding is properly 

 matching the birds; and on the fancier's knowledge of this 



much of his success will depend. No precise rule can be laid 

 down ; nevertheless a few practical suggestions may he given. 

 A Kite may be matched to almost anything but a Kite, such 

 as an Almond, light Splash (that is, a bird with not too much 

 black), Red or Yellow Agate or Whole-feather ; but of all, the 

 best, in our opinion, is the match of a Splash and a Bed or 

 Yellow Agate — the Red preferred. It is well not to match the 

 birds too rich iu feather, especially if close bred, or white and 

 purblind birds will be the result. Experience and a knowledge 

 of how the birds are bred are everything in this matter ; and 

 even then no certainty as to the colour of the offspring can be 

 depended upon. It is a fact that birds which one year have 

 thrown the most beautiful Almonds, have the next 6eason pro- 

 duced nothing but Kites. A great advantage in this variety is 

 the extent to which they can be bred in, not only improving 

 them in character, but avoiding that nuisance to all breeders 

 of other birds, especially the Carrier and the Pouter, of the ne- 

 cessity of finding and purchasing suitable crosses. Almonds as 

 a rule are very prolific ; and to insure a fair amount of success 

 all that is required is a little attention at the right moment. 



A staff of nurses is an indispensable requisite to the Almond 

 breeder. For this purpose the common Baldheads are the best, 

 and of these what are called the " pleasant-faoed " ones — that 



