io8 THE PIGEON BOOK 



kept and bred. They are free breeders and capital 

 parents; therefore it is needless to be bothered or ham- 

 pered with a lot of mongrel foster parents, as is neces- 

 sary with many of our other most beautiful varieties of 

 pigeons, which is a great drawback, particularly to those 

 with limited capital and accommodation. Nothing at all 

 elaborate is required in the way of lofts or houses — just 

 a warm, dry shelter, with a small amount of ordinary 

 care and cleanliness, is all that is wanted in the keeping 

 of the Long-Faced Tumbler; therefore it will readily be 

 seen that the variety is most suited for the beginner to 

 take up with. The breed offers no end of scope, for 

 there are upwards of fifty different distinct colourings 

 and markings in the clean and muffed-legged varieties 

 combined. Great improvements have been made during 

 latter years in the Long- Faced Tumbler, and to-day it 

 ranks amongst the section termed the high-class varieties. 

 Particular advancement has been marked in the clean- 

 legged self colours, both in regard to the perfection to 

 which they are now bred and also the prices which they 

 are commanding. About ten years ago a first-class Self 

 could be purchased for £5, but not so nowadays, for 

 only recently several specimens have changed hands at 

 ;£2o and ;£25 each; thus it will be seen that it is well 

 worth a little time and trouble in trying to produce a good 

 specimen. Having now drifted entirely into the clean- 

 legged varieties, I will proceed with this section first, 

 taking for the commencement the self or whole colours, 

 which certainly find more admirers than the rest of the 

 Tumbler family put together. This is undoubtedly ac- 

 counted for by the fact that they breed so much more true 

 to type and can with far less trouble and experience be 

 sent out for exhibition, thus commending themselves to 

 the novice and the busy business man alike. Nothing 



