The Short-faced Ahnond Tumbler. 171 



contained the three colours that constitute the almond or ermine, viz., 

 black, white, and yellow, variously and richly intersperaed." This has 

 been often quoted as to mean that the three colours should run through 

 all the feathers of the almond ; but no white must appear elsewhere than 

 in flights and tail at any period of the bird's existence. When the ground 

 colour is only a yellow tinged with white, it is called an almond splash, 

 and to breed from such is to go backwards, and is like breeding from bad 

 coloured pigeons of any sort. The almond tumbler is one of the varieties 

 which show a sexual difference in colouring, the hens for the most part 

 being weaker in their ground colour than the cocks, though there are 

 exceptions, and wanting the black pencilling evenly distributed over the 

 body. There is generally less break in the feather, and the black is 

 seldom of so deep a tint. A really good hen takes longer to come to 

 perfection than a cook, and consequently remains longer in feather. 

 There is also no such thing as a standard feathered hen in flights and 

 tail, or, at least, such is of the greatest rarity. 



Carriage. — The shape and carriage of the almond is the next property 

 to be mentioned. The breast ought to be broad and prominent, the neck 

 short and thin, the back hollow, the rump rather full, and the taU carried 

 above the flights, which should touch the ground, but not drag on it. 

 The head should be thrown back, and the bird should walk on tiptoe on 

 short unfeathered legs. Nothing is more attractive than excellent carriage 

 in an almond, and it is a sign of good blood ; for, however fine a bird 

 may be in its other properties, it never can look well without good carriage. 

 Shape and carriage have been called one and the same thing ; but a bird 

 may have all the necessary conformation, and yet lack that spirit and 

 vivaciousness which enables it to carry itself properly. The almond shows 

 best when salacious, and when driving his hen to nest. 



Beak. — Two distinct forms of beak are seen in short-faces, and that 

 which is most generally admired, and which I admire, is what is known as 

 the goldfinch beak, which is formed like that of the well-known song bird. 

 The goldfinch beak, from its shape, is generally longer, and more inclined 

 to keep growing at the point than the other form of beak, which more 

 resembles a grain of barley, dipping a little at the end. The goldfinch 

 form is, however, so distinct from the beak of any other variety of pigeon, 

 that, in my opinion, it is the most worthy of encouragement ; but which- 

 ever style of beak the short-face may have, it must be straight out from 



