i6o FiDicv Pfi^eois. 



of it, neglecting- what might truly bo reckoned more important work 

 in the fancy ? Black, blue, and silver beards of the common flyiug 

 tumbler type were, when I kept them in my boyhood, capital flyers and 

 tumblers. 



The long-faced beard is a pigeon marked the same as the common one, 

 but a much larger bird, and measuring from l-,in. to l^in. in face, i.e., 

 from the centre of the ej'e to the point of the beak, or oven more. I am 

 not aware if it ever tumbles, but I believe generally not. It was most 

 likely produced from the beard and dragoon, and carefully bred for 

 marking, length of face, and absence of wattle. It was formerly much 

 used as a match flyer and messenger, being capable of doing over 100 

 miles. I think it must have been produced in London, for I never read 

 of it in any foreign pigeon book. I have only seen blacks and blues 

 of this variety, and the latter are often good in colour in both sexes, 

 which is probably some slight proof of its dragoon descent. 



A flight of balds and beards, assorted in colour, is a pretty sight. In 

 clear weather the white markings tell well against the coloured body at a 

 considerable height in the air. To make thera fly high and well together, 

 however, they require all the attention necessary in raising a flight of 

 tumblers, and they must not be allowed continual Uberty, otherwise they 

 will give little satisfaction as high flyers. 



For those who employ feeders for all small high-class pigeons they 

 answer every requirement, being careful nurses and breeders the year 

 through, except in the depth of mnter ; and when they are kept for this 

 purpose alone they are all the better for unlimited freedom, as in country 

 places they gather much green food and other things serviceable in the 

 rearing of young birds, which they could not procure if kept confined. 



FoREiaN TUMBLEKS. 



The tumbler is as great a favourite abroad as with us, and it is 

 distributed everywhere on the continent of Europe in great variety. In 

 my youthful days, and probably still, though I never now watch the 

 arrival of Baltic traders as I then did, vessels from Kussia often brought 

 to Dundee what we used to call Eiga tumblers. They were self-coloured 

 blacks, reds, and yellows, of large size, with heavily feathered legs and 

 feet, the quills on the latter often -lin. in length, and with a large Bhell 

 crest. Indeed, they were very similar in shape and size to the trumpeter 



