77 



nor must the nostrils be large, but only slightly developed. How much better would it 

 be if all Pigeon Fanciers would adopt this standard of measuring to the end of the 

 quick ; then there would be no inducement to pare the Tumblers' beaks, nor yet to coax 

 the bill of a Carrier, or the toe-nail of a Pouter, to an ugly and unnatural development 

 of horn ; length or shortness are respective!}' considered beaiities, but these deformities 

 can hardly be considered as such. The eye should be prominent, round, bright, and of 

 a clear pearl colour, without streak or mud-marks, and also free from sere. In shape, 

 the neck should be short and thin ; the head carried rather backwards ; the neck slightly 

 bending ; the chest full, and well thrown out ; the back short ; the body round, and as 

 small as possible ; the flight and tail short ; their feet small, and the bird standing on 

 its toes, the ball of the foot often slightly raised from the ground. Feather is consi- 

 dered the last property ; not but that good plumage adds great beauty to the bird, and 

 much enhances the value of an otherwise good specimen. The more an Almond has of 

 bright yellow, and the clearer and more decided the black, so much the more is it 

 admired. Yellow, black, and white are the primary colours, and the more these are 

 intermixed the more they are prized. Blue is considered very objectionable. Mottled 

 Tumblers are those of any colour where the flight and tail are dark and the bodies 

 spotted with white feathers. Of the markings of Baldheads, Beards, and Magpies, I 

 will write more fully in my next, when I speak of flying Tumblers. In and in breeding 

 (that is, coupling relations) is of considerable use in reducing their size and making 

 them fine and delicate ; but caution is required not to carry this process too far, or they 

 will become so weakly and degenerate, that scarcely any offspring will be raised — and 

 these few worthless. The finer and more dehcate they are, the more they are admired ; 

 consequently, they exist in an artificial state. From their weakness, they are rarely 

 allowed to enjoy their liberty, though on account of their high breeding and good living, 

 they breed freely, but are very apt to leave their young and go to nest again before the 

 squabs are capable of keeping themselves warm. To prevent these dying, they are 

 shifted to a pair of feeders that have hatched later, so as to secure them more attention 

 and a fresh supply of soft meat (a pap on which the old pigeons feed the young at first). 

 These feeders must, however, be small pigeons with small beaks, or the nurslings may 

 be injured, or have their tender beaks twisted or broken in feeding (I don't know if it 

 has ever been tried, but fancy the Collard Turtle-doves would make good nurses for 

 these tiny pets). If the young Tumblers are very fine, or the weather cold, it may be 

 necessary to shift them several times ; thus, several pairs may be shifted in rotation, 

 the Almonds themselves taking an elder pair of some of their companions. Their loft 

 should be kept scrupulously clean. They are fond of bathing ; their water must be kept 

 clean and sweet, and their food be of the best quality. Each pair should be provided 

 with a separate breeding-pen, so constructed that it can be closed at pleasure, either to 

 keep in a troublesome gent, or to prevent others annoying a weakly one. Earthen pans 

 should be provided for nests, placed on a shelf in the pen, and short straw or fine heath 

 twigs for building materials. When the young are sufficiently old, they should be 

 placed on the floor of the pen to prevent their disturbing the old ones when sitting again, 

 or injuring themselves by falling down. A registry should be kept of all births and 

 marriages, and many other particulars. A great deal of care and attention is necessaxy 

 to insure success. No one will, therefore, wonder at the high prices paid for good 

 birds. 



(Brent.) — P.S. — Since writing the above, I was somewhat surprised at seeing in 

 the " Poultry Chronicle," for June 7th, a wish expressed by Mr. J. M. Eaton, to the 

 effect that Splashed birds should be shown in the Almond class, his reason being that 

 Splashed Short-faceds are Almond-bred birds, and are preferred by some breeders as 

 more likely to breed Almonds. Notwithstanding all due deference to Mr. Eaton's 

 superior knowledge of the breeding of this beautiful pet of the Fancy, I must dissent 

 from him in this respect. An Almond I consider strictly a feather variety ; but Short- 

 faceds are of various colours, most of which are occasionally used for breeding Almonds. 

 I think it would be equally inconsistent to award a prize to a Splashed in the Almond 

 class, as it would be to a Kite, a Dun, or any other colour. As well might a Sebright 

 Fancier require a first prize for a deeply-laced cock and faintly-laced hens in preference 

 to an evenly-laced pen of birds, on the plea of the greater probability of their producing 

 better chickens ; or the tulip grower might argue his right to pre-eminence as having 

 the best shaped breeder in preference to a less accurately shaped fancy flower. 



(Btient.) — I think, also, that as all Pigeons have ten flight-feathers, the standard 



