Almond Tumbler Fanciers was called together, I very much question whether any 

 one of them could assign a better name. For what is it that we Fanciers allow 

 to constitute the Almond Tumbler, the three colors, black, white, and yellow, 

 variously and richly interspersed ; but the greatest difficulty, amounting almost to 

 an impossibility, is to obtain a rich bright yellow, nevertheless the ardent and 

 indefatigable young Fancier should strive to reach the standard, authorized by 

 the gentlemen of the Fancy, namely black, white and yellow, and in his efforts 

 to obtain yellow will produce a rich almond colour usually called the ground, and 

 from which the bird derives its name. There are three colors in the bird, and it 

 would be folly to find a new name for it, as the oldest and best informed Fanciers 

 are of opinion that a better name could not be found, and shows the good sense of 

 the Fanciers centuries ago. I sincerely hope the name of the bird will for ever be 

 set at rest, as it is known by the name in every clime where the English tongue 

 is spoken, as the "Almond Tumbler." It will not be my fault, should the old 

 and experienced Fancier happen to make a mistake, and sit in judgment upon 

 this Work, or become severely critical, for comparatively speaking, I am, but a 

 young Fancier, my object is a pure one in publishing this treatise, that it may find 

 its way into the hands of the young and inexperienced ; the idea struck me that 

 I mi£;ht give him my experience, from actual observation and reflection ; but 

 for a better and more experienced Fancier than myself, to suppose for one 

 moment, that I had the audacity to end.eavour to instruct him, " is his mistake^ 

 not mine," as I sincerely hope that I am entirely free from such intention. 



But a person not acquainted with the beauties of this study or science, should not 

 take upon himself the character of judge, and condemn a study or science of which 

 he is utterly ignorant ; should he make his remarks freely, they would most probably 

 be characterised by a gross want of information, and only meet with that contempt 

 which they deserved. I am fully aware there are gentlemen who cannot see any 

 beauty in Pigeons, except in a pie, " these are Belly Fanciers " ; and, although 

 very numerous, with these I shall have nothing to do. 



That it is an innocent amusement and recreation, well adapted to the pro- 

 fessional gentlemen of law, physic, and divinity, or any other person engaged in 

 long continued and excessive exertion of the intellectual faculties. The relief 

 this delightful recreation gives is truly astonishing, by unbending the_ mind after 

 close and intent application to abstruse subjects ; for the mind of man is incapable 

 of constant application either to study or business, and it is therefore highly 

 necessary to relieve it. I am of opinion that many of the brightest luminaries that 

 have suddenly been lost to society, would not have been so, had they been engaged 

 in this Fancy, by way of recreation or relief to the mind. I have known some 

 very old gentlemen in the Fancy, but never yet knew a Fancier that was troubled 

 with hippochondriasis. 



There is nothing so base as ingratitude, and I cannot allow it to pass over without 

 calling upon the young Fanciers to join me in acknowledging the debt of gratitude 

 we owe to the old and experienced Fanciers of past ages, for handing down to us 

 young Fanciers such a beautiful strain of birds to commence with ; for when we 

 reflect for a moment, that these beautiful birds were originally produced from the 

 common Pigeon, and when you consider that at one time the beak should not 

 exceed seven-eighths of an inch, (meaning the distance from the iris, or circle 

 round the pupil of the eye, to the end of the quick on the beak.) Now if the beak 

 was limited to seven-eighths of an inch, which I presume was considered short 

 at that time, what is the length it might not have run out to ! and this is another 

 proof of the debt of gratitude we owe, as I said before, to the old and experienced 

 Fanciers, and in a most especial manner to the gentlemen of the Columbarian 

 Society who have had so great a share for the last hundred years in bringing the 

 AlmonA Tumbler to the standard it has now arrived at. And now, my young 

 Fancier, with these great advantages on your side at your commencement, I hope 

 and trust by your spirit, attention, and perseverance, you will still more contribute 



