on the rump, vent, and thighs, the rest of the body being ol 

 ene colour; blues and silvers, however, having black bars on 

 their wings. On the accuracy and evenness df their marking 

 does their proportionate value consist. If daik feathers occur 

 on the thighs, they are termed foul-thighed. If too much 

 white down the neck, it is said to be slobbered. 



" The piebald, or bald-headed tumbler, called for shortness a 

 baldpate, resembles the preceding except the head, which is all 

 white. The line passes a little below the beak and eye, and 

 must be straight and even all round the head, when it is said 

 to be clean out; if otherwise, slobbered or foul-headed, and| 

 accordingly depreciated in value. Flight, tail, romp, vent, 

 and thighs, white, like the beards. Both must have clear 

 pearl eyes. Indeed, this is essential for all tumblers." 



One of the most favourite among the " short-faced " 

 tumblers is the " almond." To be perfect it should be tri- 

 coloured, yellow, black, and white, every feather partaking 

 of the three tints. Yellow, however, should predominate. If 

 you are desirous of founding a breed of almond tumblers, you 

 must match a black with a yeUow bird, and they should be as 

 near four years old as possible, as then they are in their prime. 



If it is your intention to purchase ahnond tumblers in their 

 squeakerhood, your best plan will be first to see the squeakers' 

 parents, and let their appearance guide your purchase, as 

 Httle can be judged from the squeakers' plumage previous to 

 its first moult. You wiU find it murky and dingy as un- 

 polished gold, and indeed it is not till the bird has reached 

 his third year that he attains his true colours. As a rule, if 

 the parents are perfect in colour, you may venture to purchase 

 the progeny. 



For my part, however, I see httle sense in breeding birds as 

 fantastically coloured as parrots, whose proper province is the 

 clear blue heavens. Where is the use of it P What becomes 

 of the pretty colour it has cost you so much time and patience 

 to cultivate when the birds are properly disporting half a mile 

 above your head ? They are simply clay -coloured. A flock of 

 " silvers," or " magpies " even, look ten times as handsome. It 

 only becomes worth while to breed variegated pigeons when 

 you possess sufficient cruelty to immure them in cages, like 

 canaries, and keep them for exhibition. Besides, the artificial 

 colouring won't stand. As the bird grows old. Nature asserts 

 her right, the gay plumage gradually fades, the yellow blends 

 with the black, and becomes dirty grey, and finally the over- 



