THE PIGEON BOOK 123 



the neck and chest should be coloured to a point just below 

 the breast-bone, the cut running in a horizontal line from 

 shoulder to shoulder. The saddle should be V-shapsd 

 and clearly defined, extending from the top of each 

 shoulder to the rump, just the same as the markings of a 

 Magpde. All the rest of the bird should be white, with 

 the exception of tail, for which there is a separate stan- 

 dard laid down, the same as with badges, i.e., the 

 blacks, blues, and chequers to have a coloured tail with 

 a white band running across the rump, and the reds and 

 yellows to carry a whole white tail. A great deal of dis- 

 cussion has recently taken place in Birmingham concern- 

 ing this, which has arisen over a certain yellow which is 

 being exhibited possessing a sound yellow tail, and has 

 been awarded premier honours by two of the leading 

 judges of Muffed Tumblers, and it is to be hoped that 

 the result may mean an alteration in the reading of the 

 standard. 



The Magpie, which has the same markings as the 

 Saddle Tumbler, has to have a coloured tail, be it red, 

 yellow, black, or blue; then why not so with the 

 Tumbler ? At any rate a coloured tail, which to my mind 

 is preferable, should certainly be recognised by the 

 standard of excellence. 



In making a few observations in conclusion upon the 

 general management of a Long-Faced Tumbler, I would 

 strongly advise anyone about to take up with the variety 

 to construct their buildings so that the birds which are to 

 be accommodated therein may get a plentiful supply of 

 fresh air, for such is absolutely essential if you desire to 

 keep them fit and in show form. With the dark-nered 

 varieties, light is also necessary if the dark, fine, thread- 

 like cere which we all so much admire is to be maintained. 

 In fact, with such varieties as clean-legged Black 



