to increase its beauties and perfections. I will endeavour to stimulate and cheer 

 you on, by informing you that the most experienced and accomplished Fancier 

 that ever Uved at one time, knew no more about the Almond Tumbler than the 

 Almond Tumbler knew about him, or the little knowledge you are in possession 

 of, provided you know any thing of the Almond Tumbler; and here 1 will tell you 

 another great fact, and that is, that the field is still as open for fresh competitors 

 now, as it was one hundred years ago. I am fully sensible that there are among the 

 Fanciers, gentlemen infinitely more able in every sense of the word, being more 

 experienced, and having more leisure time, therefore could have produced a better 

 Treatise on the subject of the Almond Tumbler than I shall be able to do, but, 

 from some cause or other they have not thought fit so to do ; at the same time I 

 must keep in view the expence of the Work, so that it shall not be beyond the 

 reach of the humble Fancier. Prudence has dictated to me to address my work 

 to the young and inexperienced, being fully sensible that I was incompetent to 

 ofier remarks to the old and experienced Fancier ; but, 1 believe, that the young 

 Fancier may, with advantage to himself, digest every remark in this Treatise. 



There is another consideration that has flashed across my mind, to accelerate 

 my work, so as to be able to bring it out by the first of May, when all the people 

 in the world, comparatively speaking, are striving to produce something that will 

 be acceptable to those who take an interest in those subjects that come nearest and 

 dearest to their hearts ; and as I have not heard of any Fancier's intention to 

 produce a similar Treatise at the time of the Great Exhibition, when " all the 

 World will be our country, and doing good our Religion," I was determined to 

 offer my mite on such an auspicious occasion. When, we consider the deep 

 interest that the most illustrious Prince and Consort of the best Sovereign that 

 ever graced the British Throne, takes in the Exhibition, surely it would be 

 unpardonable in us Fanciers to let the present opportunity pass away, without 

 endeavouring to throw in our mite or offering. It is well known that there are 

 beautiful Pigeons at the Aviaries at Windsor, and I have heard it stated that 

 Napoleon was a Pigeon Fancier. However, it is one thing to have Pigeons, but 

 quite another thing to understand them. If it was possible for noblemen and 

 gentlemen to know the amazing amount of solace and pleasure derived from the 

 Almond Tumbler, when they begin to understand their properties, I should think 

 that scarce any nobleman or gentleman would be without their aviaries of Almond 

 Tumblers, and which would form a splendid ornament in their beautiful gardens 

 or grounds. Having wandered a little, I will return again to my more immediate 

 subject ; it is with Fanciers as with others, that they do not exactly think alike 

 upon some of the points or properties ,- all that is wanted is honesty. If those great 

 and eminent ministers, Whitfield and Wesley, after a college education could not 

 exactly agree upon the same text, is it surprising that you and I should not exactly 

 agree upon the remarks we may make from our experience derived solely from 

 actual observations, taking the Almond Tumbler as our text ; hut one thing is 

 certain, provided we are Fanciers in the true acceptance of the word, we must go 

 hand in hand upon the five properties, allowing each of us to choose our favorite 

 point of property ; for which of the five properties could we part with in producing 

 a good bird — it is absolutely necessary to have the five properties to constitute a 

 really good bird. 



That the Almond Tumbler may be improved beyond what it has hitherto been, 

 — that new beauties may be discovered, and a higher standard taken as the beau 

 ideal of each amateur, — and that it may as far exceed the present standard, as that 

 which is now looked up to does that of half a century back. 



Is the sincere and hearty wish of a brother Fancier, 



Who has devoted time, care, and attention to the subject, 



7, Islington Green, JOHN MATTHEWS EATON. 



London. 



May \st, 1851, 



