THE TTJMBLEB. PIGEON. 



strutting on its toes as if it were walkiiig tiptoe to make the 

 most of itself. 



As regardls feather, the same rules apply to the short-faced 

 as to the other sorts. For the following directions as to th£ 

 way in which a " flight " of tumblers should be trained, we are 

 indebted to Mr. B. P. Brent, published by that gentleman in 

 his admirable little " pigeon-book " : — 



" Procure, if possible, a few high-flying birds, to train the 

 young ones to rise high when out. This is of much import- 

 ance, and will save much trouble. The flying tumblers should 

 be kept in a roomy loft by themselves. A trap, or area, as 1 

 have before described, is indispensable, in order to manage the 

 pigeons sucoessfally. Once a day they should be turned out 

 to fly ; the fore part of the day is the best, as, when the sun 

 shines too hot, they do not fly so willingly. When in practice^, 

 they will mount at once high into the sky, occasionally clapping 

 their wings, and turning over backwards till they rise to their 

 full height or " pitch," often going quite out of sight, but 

 keeping pretty much over their abode. They will thus con- 

 tinue on the wing for two or three hours ; when they begin to 

 descend, they tumble very much. When down they should be 

 enticed in, and kept confined for the rest of the day, and not 

 allowed to loiter about outside, or associate with other pigeons. 

 Their loft should be made as comfortable as possible, and be 

 provided with everything they require, — such as clean wster, 

 a bath, the well-filled hopper, a salt-cat, grits, green foou, and 

 materials for nesting, so as to prevent any desire to roam 

 about, when out, to obtain these enjoyments ; if not, it will 

 soon be found that, instead of flying ofl at once, and mounting 

 high in the air, they will make for some roof, or other spot, 

 where they can find that for which they are longing ; therefore, 

 it is of great importance to remove any temptation, by supply- 

 ing all their vants in their own loft. By this means, they wiU 

 at once soar when let out, though, perhaps, at first it may be 

 necessary to drive them up, by waving a flag, or otherwise 

 frightening them. A few used to high-flying assist much in 

 teaching the young ones, as they become strong on the wing, 

 to soa " ; but it is very difficult, or almost impossible, to teach 

 those that have long been accustomed to fly about at random, 

 to fly high regularly. The best way to proceed with such is, 

 after they are accustomed to the place, to send them off by a 

 servant to the distance of half a mile or so, while the otheri 

 are out ; they will then most likely rise very high and join 



