48 



that it was the first and last time, for when I had stripped it and came to 

 the clove, I thought I would give it if I wanted to choak my bird, but not 

 having such a desire I refrained from giving it ; likewise giving them a purge of 

 tobacco — these things are too troublesome. U is possible you might get the garlick 

 down the throat by quartering it, and then four cloves making sixteen pieces: a 

 pretty treat to a Fancier if he has anything else to do, or to crown all, get tobacco 

 water down their throats to give them a purge. 



I am fully sensible that the Almond Tumbler Fancier has a great command of 

 temper and patience, but be need have the patience of Job to try these things. 

 My young Fancier, I have not the power or right to prevent you from trying all 

 you hear or read as to cures, but shall content myself with following my old 

 fashioned way of considering a preventive better than a cure. I am aware that 

 there are complaints over which we have no control — for instance : a bird even from 

 the nest never having a sound constitution, the vertigo or meagrims, fits, &c. ; but 

 if I have a bird very ill, from whatever cause, or bad eyes, &c, I take it to my friend 

 the chemist, and he treats it as he would you or me, and I should advise you, my 

 young Fancier, to do the same, and the sooner you take it after you have discovered 

 something wrong in the bird the better. According to your station in life, you 

 may have an intimate friend or companion a physician, surgeon, &c, and as they 

 are gentlemen by education, their good sense will teach them if you broach the 

 subject to them, that it was not intended to insult them. I cannot inform you, 

 otherwise I would, what it was that cured the black mottle cock of the vertigo or 

 meagrims, not considering it a fair question to put to my friend the chemist. Very 

 old tallow the size of a bean is an excellent thing for the roop, (whether it is tha 

 wet or dry roop, which is a cold and cough,) put down their throat, heals their 

 breast, and eases their breath ; and it is possible some good may arise from the 

 butter (but the spider ?) 



It is possible, from reading this Treatise, that if two birds were in the penn, the 

 one a carrier, the other an Almond Tumbler, you might be able to discover the 

 Almond Tumbler, from the great difference of the birds, but when you come to 

 know that the one-sixteenth part of an inch excites the admiration of good Fanciers, 

 it is infinitely more appreciated, and greatly enhances the value of the bird. I 

 have endeavoured to root and ground you in the most important things connected 

 with the Almond Tumbler, by calling your particular attention to the five properties 

 to breed a good bird ; how to raise it by its food and drink, and then to preserve 

 it alive for nine, ten, or more years by good management and cleanliness, besides 

 other things connected with the management of the aviary or loft. 



If you do not keep a man or boy to look after your birds, when you go into your 

 aviaries or lofts whatsoever you have to do, do quickly ; not to saunter or idle 

 away your time as though to shew how lazy and sleepy you can be, but let "quick " 

 be the word. It will avail you nothing, whether the Author thinks little or much 

 upon the subject, provided you do not think for yourself. If you have never 

 thought before, and the perfections or imperfections of the five properties of the 

 Almond Tumbler cause you to begin thinking, the Fancy will be a blessing to you, 

 for you cannot think hard or deeply on the Almond Tumbler, without thinking on 

 more important matters. 



Should you, after reading this Treatise, be in doubt on the properties of an 

 Almond Tumbler, the only thing left me to do is, to advise you to look to the 

 Portrait at the beginning, to guide your judgment in the choice of such birds as 

 are likely to be of service to you. With my Friends I have often stated it to be 

 my intention to write a Treatise on the Almond Tumbler, I abandoned it, after 

 finding it was my master-piece ; but the Exhibition, comparatively speaking, in 

 everybody's mouth ; I could not take up a newspaper, periodical, or any new 

 work, without its appearing to me all Exhibition : that some of the people of All 

 Nations were about to exhibit something, I thought I should like to Exhibit too • 



