31 



■ot taken a prine, which haa frequently amounted to ten guineas ; so that it is no 

 uncommon thing to divide between forty and fifty guineas for prizes on the shew-day. 



This Society is now, and has been for some years past, held at Gray's Inn Coffee- 

 house, Holborn, London, on the first Tuesday in every month in the year, with 

 the exception of one or two, when the members are likely to be out of town.' 



I am aware, that in some parts of the country. Fanciers live at too great a distance 

 from each other to meet onceta month ; but surely they could meet once a quarter 

 and by forming themselves into a society, showing their birds, &c. which would im- 

 prove their knowledge of the Almond Tumbler, and greatly facilitate the study of this 

 bird. I would here suggest that a society might be formed, open to all the world 

 to show the best Almond Tumbler for the five properties, on one day in the year ■ 

 the meeting to take place in the most central part of the country — say Birmingham 

 supposing it to be the most central for the London, Manchester, Liverpool, Scotch 

 and Irish Fanciers ; but if not approved of — say London, or any other place • 

 taking care that there are facilities to get to and from, for it might not be 

 convenient for some gentlemen to stop, dine, and spend a cheerful day together 

 in conversation upon the Fancy. 



It is not my intention to enter into particulars how a society of this sort is tb 

 be carried out, it may be done by subscription, or by Fanciers having to pay 

 a certain sum on the entering of each bird competing for the prize, or both 

 combined. I have no doubt that many gentlemen who are not Fanciers, but 

 great admirers of the Almond Tumbler, would subscribe to carry out the object, 

 and have the gratification of seeing some of the best birds under the Sun. 



GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 



I sincerely hope that I should be the last Fancier to instil into the mind of 

 the amateur, (provided I had the ability, or more properly speaking dishonesty) 

 how to make up a bird ; nevertheless I could not conscientiously pass over without 

 informing you of your priveleges. You have a right to cut or shorten the beak 

 to the end ot the quick, and to scrape the sides of the beak with a sharp instrument, 

 or broken glass, to show it off to the greatest advantage ; at the same time, you 

 have no right to cut or scrape through the quick ; if by accident, you should do 

 so, the bird would not die, yet the experienced Fancier will discover it. The 

 cause of my mentioning this circumstance is, that the young Fancier should not 

 be disheartened, and lamenting that he cannot breed such short faced birds as 

 he sees ; but from his want of knowledge, he may look at the head and beak of birds 

 that have been cut to the end of the quick, and look at his own birds, whose 

 beak have been allowed to grow or run out, and he could have wished his own 

 birds were as short faced. It is possible it might be shorter, but he took his distance 

 tor the one to the quick, and the other to the end of the horn. I hope I have 

 said enough here to open the eyes of the amateur, without giving offence to 

 the more experienced, or practical Fancier. 



The young Fancier has also the right to pluck or withdraw any objectionable 

 feather, provided he keeps the bird in his own aviary or loft, but has no right to 

 show it for feather ; but if he does, it may be discovered, and if he has done 

 so by way of selling the bird, it amounts to a fraud ; this is what is called 

 in the Fancy, weeding, or gardening. 



In your time you may hear some things that will appear strange, and greatly 

 surprise you, listen to their remarks, but I caution you not to repeat them, unless 

 you have been an eye witness. It is possible you may hear of the making up of 

 birds ; I believe the only properties that it is possible to alter is Feather, Head, 

 and Beak. The feather we will take first, by plucking or withdrawing any 

 objectionable feather, called weeding or gardening; secondly, the head, as I 

 have heard it stated, by employing caps, placed on the heads of young birds in 

 the nest to grow to. It is possible it might have been tried, but as I never saw it 



