102 



a cross — more properly speaking, it did not infuse young and fresh blood into the So- 

 ciety ; therefore it gradually sunk and became defunct. One thing that accelerated its 

 death was some of its members insisting upon better yellow or Almond-colour for the 

 ground or foundation of the *bird, and from which it derived its name — the " Almond 

 Tumbler ;" this led to a schism, and the society unfortunately departed, after bringing 

 the Almond Timibler to such a state of perfection, although I have at their shows seen 

 birds that it would be difficult to draw the line whether the ground of some of the birds 

 were red or yellow. (Read paragraphs 436 and 437). This excellent society departed 

 after an existence of over one hundred years, to the immense grief of those gentlemen 

 of the fancy who had the honour of seeing their birds on a grand show day — "It was 

 a great and rare treat." This society was formed for the encouragement of the breed 

 of the Almond Tumbler, under the title of The Columbaeian Society, who met almost 

 monthly throughout the year, to dine and spend a cheerful day together, chiefly in con- 

 versation upon the Fancy, and to produce such young birds as they may have had bred 

 since their last meeting, for the inspection and entertainment of the society. These 

 gentlemen had a subscription among themselves, for the purpose of giving premiums 

 to such persons has had bred (that season in which the subscription is made) the best 

 birds, according to the standard laid down by the society. The prizes are generally 

 four in nimiber, and divided into two classes, viz., two cocks and two hens ; and the 

 subscription is usually ample enough to allow the first cock and hen ten guineas each ; 

 the second five or six each. Sometimes there are six prizes, which are divided in the 

 same ratio, making the prize for the first bird in each class, considerably larger than the 

 Others. These prizes are adjudged and determined by a committee of three gentlemen, 

 chosen from among themselves, prior to the shew-day, who have not any birds of their 

 OV5T1, qualified to act as candidates for the prizes. On the shew-day the committee 

 assemble; the birds which are candidates for the prizes are then put into the pens in an 

 adjoining room, the cocks by themselves in one pen, and the hens by themselves in 

 another, whither the committee adjourn alone, to decide upon the birds qualified to t^ke 

 the respective prizes, according to the standard acknowledged by the members, which 

 the committee have before them, to remind and guide them in their decision. When 

 they have made up their minds, the birds are respectively marked, so as to ascertain 

 which is first, second, &c. And the members at large are then admitted into the room 

 to claim their own birds, and receive a prize for such of them, as from the before-men- 

 tioned marks shall be entitled to one. There was sometimes also a private subscription, 

 or sweepstakes, amongst some of the members, for the best cock or hen bird that has 

 not taken a prize, which has frequently amounted to ten guineas; so that it is no 

 uuconomon thing to divide between forty and fifty guineas for prizes on the shew-day. 



507.* I think it will not be out of place here, if I give you what I believe to be the 

 standard of the original Columbarian Society, taken from an old work. 



STANDARD FOR THE ALMOND TUMBLER. 

 The properties to be considered in the following order: — 



Head — Lofty and round. 



Eye — A bright pearl colour round the pupil. 



Beak — Fine, straight, and pointed, the length not to exceed \ of an inch from the 

 point to the inner circle of the eye. 



Feather — The ground uniformly yellow through hackle shoulder and rump, the whole 

 to be equally spangled with black; the first nine flight feathers in the wings, (counting 

 from their extremities) to be distinctly broken with black, white, and yellow; the tail to 

 consist of twelve feathers, and no more, all of which to be broken the same as the flight, 

 in both cases the most yellow to have the preference. 



Shape — A fine neck and prominent chest, short feathers, small round body, and the 

 bird to stand low. 



Imperfections inadmissable at a show — A darker colour than the shoulder, running 

 across the short flight without any break of black in it, also the beak being crossed or 

 turned up. 



508. This society was for some years past, beld at Gray's Inn Coffee house, Holbom, 



