74 



COLUMBA REVOLYENS. The Tumhler. 



183. — This bird is so called from an innate faculty peculiar to this spe- 

 cies, which is their tumbling in the air, and which they effect by throwing 

 themselves over backward, after the same manner that the most expert 

 artists in tumbling perform what they call the back spring. (*) 



184. A Tumbler is a very small Pigeon (-i-), short bodied, full breasted, 



Pouting Horseman, while he has the opportunity to attempt to breed the English 

 Pouter, any more than I shall advise him to breed a Skinnum, Dragon, or Horseman, 

 while he has the opportunity to attempt to breed a Carrier, for degeneracy will do that, 

 in spite of the efforts of the most experienced Fanciers ; but I am desirous you 

 should breed the English Pouter with more style and grace, with a hoUow back, 

 smaller in the girt, stout legs, but not like mill-posts, soft downy or snow-hke 

 feather legs ; but not rushed and sprouted with feathers that almost prevent the bird 

 from walldng, 



182. (Eaton.) — I deeply lament and deploi-e that there are not more Gentlemen in 

 this noble, dignified, gxaceful, and majestic Fancy, for its elegance, style, and bold- 

 ness of figure, which so characterises the English Pouter, is well worthy of the utmost 

 attention that the most accomphshed Fancier can give it, and will amply repay him 

 for all the toil, labour, time, trouble, and expense he has bestowed upon it. 



182. (Bkent.) — Pouting Horsemen are a cross between the Pouter Pigeon and the 

 Horseman or Dragoon. They are fine, large birds, very active and merry, good flyers, 

 and excellent breeders, being well adapted for general purposes, and not so shy as the 

 dragoon ; they would be good farm stock. 



183. (Mayor, p. 68.) — Many people are of opinion that the Almond Tumbler 

 will not perform this back spring, but I must beg leave to contradict this notion, as a 

 gentleman with whom I am very intimately acquainted, who flies his Almond Tum- 

 blers in the country, has assured me they are fully as expert in tumbling as any Tum- 

 bler whatever. 



(* Eaton.) — ^With regard to the Almond Tumbler's tumbling, when I first entered 

 the Fancy, associating with Fanciers to purchase Almond Tumblers, one of the 

 Fanciers said to me, " See my Almond Tumblers tumble, and go out of sight." I 

 thought, comparatively speaking, I was determined I would not lose sight of them : 

 they were let out, began tumbling in good style, mounted the elements, and in spite 

 of the utmost watchfulness on my part, although only over my head, and a blight 

 morning, they did go out of my sight. I watched them till they appeared not larger 

 than flies, having by this time the crick in my neck by looking up so high and straight 

 (I beheve they were over my head) . At last they appeared in sight, came gradually 

 down, tumbhng splendidly. I must confess I was astonished, and would not believe 

 of Tumblers going out of sight over my head of a clear morning. On a moment's re- 

 flection, I felt I ought not to be so hard of belief. Most of us have seen a balloon up, 

 which is somewhat larger than a Pigeon ; we have watched that as carefully as we 

 could, but it has given us the slip. I once saw three up at the same time ; they ap- 

 peared to me like migratory birds ; you will not believe it strange when I inform you 

 they appeared to be playing at " follow my leader," or one after another. I lost sight 

 of them all ; therefore it is not strange that Pigeons should go out of sight. With 

 regard to tumbling, I have no doubt you have often witnessed the Tumbler's back not 

 go over. This is in consequence of the bird having a long tail ; the bird's head 

 touching the tail balks the bh'd in going over. Some have cut an inch off the tail, 

 and they have afterwards tumbled very well. In reasoning, it would follow that the 

 Almond Tumbler, being so small, snug, and compact a bird — so short from the beak 

 to the 6nd of the tail, that if flown would tumble better than any other bird. It is 

 certain the shorter and more chubby the Tumblers are the more they tiimble ; on the 

 contrary, the large common run-out Tumblers, like Skinnums, seldom or never 

 tumble. 



t 184. (Eaton.) —A fii-st-rate Tumbler, possessing the five properties, is, beyond all 



