THE CONFESSIONS OF A FANCIER. 53 



On returning home I erected a strong building 

 of wood and iron. It is constructed of two thick- 

 nesses of wood sandwiched with double sheet-iron, 

 the whole knit compactly together with stout flat 

 bar-iron inside and out, tied with nuts and bolts. 

 The place looks like a small fortress. With 

 several locks, and the addition of an electric bell, 

 I trust it is thief-proof. I know — 



" The best laid schemes o' mice and men 

 Gang aft a-gley." 



Having done all I can to help myself, the matter 

 is passed up into the hands of a kind protecting 

 Providence, and I rest peacefully. 



My place was soon alive with Baldheads — 

 longfaced birds, of course — and very coarse indeed 

 they were to one whose eye was familiar with 

 the Almond Tumbler. However, they were good 

 for a start ; the full programme of my ambition 

 being to raise a stud of choice shortfaced Balds 

 and Beards. These birds have not had justice 

 meted out to them by the Fancy. Like Tam o' 

 Shanter's nag they have been left out in the cold, 

 whilst Carriers, Turbits, Jacobins, and Almonds 

 have been nursed, coddled, and beclubbed — artis- 

 tically cultured, scientifically bred, and popularly 

 patronised. My beautiful proteges are slighted — it 



