CHAPTER LVIII. 



THE SHORT-FACED TUMBLER PIGEON. 



The Almond. 



Soon after the death of John Moore, author of the " Colnmbarium," a 

 variety of tumbler called the Almond became in ^-eat estimation in Lon- 

 don, and supplanted the pouter and carrier in the lofts of many breeders. 

 We are enabled to trace its history with some degree of accuracy. There 

 i8 no doubt that its cultivation began before Moore wrote, as will be seen 

 from the following passage in his book, where he says, in writing of 

 tumblers : " But amongst all, there is Mixture of three Colours, vulgarly 

 call'd an Almond, perhaps from the quantity of Almond colour'd Feathers 

 that are found in the Hackle : Others call it an Ermine, I suppose from 

 the black Spots that are generally in it ; however I am sensible the Name 

 is not compatible to the Term so call'd in Heraldry, which is only white 

 spotted with black ; yet as the Gentlemen of the Fancy have assign'd this 

 Name to this mottley Colour, I shan't quarrel with them about a Term -. 

 if the three Colours run thro' the Feathers of the Flight and Tail, it is 

 reckon' d a very good Almond, or Ermine, and is much valued. 



"N.B. — An ermine Tumbler never comes to the full Beauty of its 

 Feather, till it has twice molted off, and when it grows very old will 

 decline, till it runs away to a down-right Mottle or other Colour." 



The almond tumbler was therefore very much valued, when the three 

 colours ran through the flights and tail, as early as 173.5 ; and a standard 

 had by that time been established for it in regard to feather. But it seems 

 unlikely, if it was then anything else than an almond feathered common 

 tumbler, that Moore would have omitted to describe its peculiarities of 

 head, beak, and carriage. It seems probable, therefore, that at this date 

 it had not altered much in size and shape from the common tumblers, 

 among which he described it as a variety. 



