184 



little importance ; well managed birds in a roomy loft are best left to themselves ; where 

 crowded, the remarks will apply." 



624. Page 74. " Query. — Was the above remark worth publishing ?" 



625. Page 75. On diseases : ** I have never lost but one young bird from this dis- 

 ease [canker] ; it is in fact a cancer, and in my opinion is hereditary amongst the 

 highest bred birds when kept upon bad food, and in a filthy state ; or why should I 

 have escaped it amongst at least five himdred young ones." 



626. Page 80. The roop ; "Has never attacked my birds." 



627. Page 81. The vertigo or meagrims ; "Thirty-six years ago when my collection 

 of Dragons (about thirty) every morning brought me from London, in shps, the leading 

 article of the Morning Post newspaper tied round the leg, I had three birds attacked, 

 but they recovered on resting them and giving good food. (Note in 1850.)" 



628. Page 83. On the staggers ; I have never had a bird die by being attacked by 

 either of the last three diseases, which I attribute to care, diet, regimen and flying at 

 large in fine weather." On scouring or purging ;" " The astringent quality depends on 

 the soil from whence the water issues, or the quality of the pipes which convey it." 



629. Page 84. On small pox. "This disease never visited my birds." 



630. Page 86. On the Fancier scarcely knowing his own birds, when sore in moult : 

 "This is as ti-ue as it is remakable." On moulting ; "Especially the late-bred young 

 ones, which should be kept in warmer rooms, or at least where the cold air is excluded.* 



631. Page 92. On a bad eye, most diflElcult to counteract ; " So I think, (J. B.)" 



632. Page 93. Sexes; " difficult to tell." 



633. Page 94. Sexes of young birds : " By no means so easily decided until after 

 they have moulted." 



634. Page 97. On feeders : " I am rather adverse to keeping common birds for 

 feeders, and prefer inferior bred Tumblers, Bald heads, or Beards ; but they have this 

 evil — by their constantly flying and tumbling, they encourage the young, high-bred 

 birds to fly so much as to make them rather coarse, which is worse than shutting them 

 up altogether. All birds with wings should be allowed to use them in moderation 

 only." 



635. Page 98. On young birds deserted, on getting food down their throat: "The 

 present breed of small Almonds will not admit of beans. Give them sound old tares 

 and wheat." 



636. Page 100. On laying second egg: "If in good health : but if in a weakly 

 state, it will be at two o'clock or later." On the Portrait of Windus's Almond 

 Tumbler : "In 1850 I bred a black mottled cock, whose carriage in my opinion so far 

 exceeded the representation here shewn in profile, that I employed an able painter to 

 make an oil painting of the bird, but instead of preserving the black mottled feather, I 

 gave the painter a richly Almond feathered bird to copy instead thereof, so that now I 

 have an oil painting of as perfect and bright an Almond as can be produced to my taste. 

 The two bird's were caged for the painter's guide."* 



FINIS. 



[as BEQABDS JOHN BOYS ESQ'S. NOTES.] 



* These Observations and Remarks are, upon the whole, true to the letter, which you 

 will find in your experience ; it is evident John Boys, Esq., was a very minute ob- 

 server and reflector on the Almond Tumbler. Fanciers may differ on the minor points, 

 they all agree upon the major points — the five properties of the Almond Tumbler. I 

 should have acted dishonest to you, if I had withheld this vast amount of experience de- 

 rived solely from Observation and Reflection from Fifty years study on the Art of 

 Breeding and Managing : I should have been no less dishonest, if I had attempted to 

 have disguised and cooked it up, and endeavoured to impose upon you, laying claim to 

 it as touching the Originality. There is no doubt that John Boys Esq. could have 



