IbJ: Pigeons and All About Thesi. 



The beak of all Sliort-faced Tumblers should be 

 short, fine, and straight, like unto the beak of a 

 Goldfinch, hence the term, " Goldfinch beak." The 

 M'attle should be V'Sry small, fine, and neat. 



The skull, more generallj' known as " the knob,'' 

 is a great feature ! It is amongst all breeds of Pigeons 

 most distinct m character. In no Pigeon of anj' kind 

 have we anything approaching the Short-faced Tumb- 

 ler in its shape of skull, or "knob." The frontal 

 should be full and projecting, rising abruptly from 

 the beak, and being nicely rounded ofi' at the top, 

 the crown being large and circular. The width and 

 height must be in due proportion, and whilst a loft_v 

 skull is of great value, that value is heavily discounted 

 should there not be proportionate width. The 

 frontal should be so prominent as to bear the appear- 

 ance of overhanging the beak. The cheeks should 

 be full and rounded, the feathers between the e5'e and 

 the under mandible bulging out towards the eye. 



The eye in all colours should be white, pure 

 milk-white, and surrounded by a very fine cere, 

 although this being a minor point many otherwis(? 

 grand birds fail therein. 



In body the Short-faced Tumbler should be small. 

 The neck should be thin and well arched, showing 

 oft' the peculiar skull properties, and also adding to 

 the beauty of carriage. The chest should be short, 

 very full, wide and projecting. The back and keel 

 short. The flights should be carried below the tail, 

 in the manner known as "drooping." 



Carriage and shape have much to do with each 

 other, as unless the body is correctly formed the 

 carriage cannot be what is required. Thus the short- 

 ness and compactness of body have much to do with 

 graceful, alert carriage, which is so great a feature 

 of the Short-faced Tumbler. The legs and thighs 

 should be short, the feet small, yet verv muscular 

 and springy, enabling the bird when in full show to 

 gain a ven- dainty pose by standing tip-toe. The 

 flights and tail, although short, are rather long in 

 proportion to the length of the body, and arc" not 

 very compactly carried. 



