108 Pigeons and Ali. About Them. 



or mottling. In both Dark and Light Mottles the 

 flights and tail must be sound in colour. 



Shape and carriage should be similar to that of 

 the Clean-legged Long-faced Tumblers. 



THE CUJIULET. 



Of ancient lineage and great popularity the 

 Cumulet was introduced into England from Belgium 

 where it had long been known as one. of the high-fly- 

 ing breeds, and much used by Belgian fanciers in the 

 evolution of " the Pigeon Voyageur " or Racing 

 Homer, its great value in this direction being its 

 high flying propensity. English Cumulets are white, 

 or white with slight red marking about the throat, 

 known as the " chuck," but on the Continent 

 coloured birds are also known, such as blacks and 

 reds, with white flights and tails. \'\'hen first intro- 

 duced to English fanciers it was as a flying bird, but 

 It was not long after its advent into this country that 

 it was introduced to the show pen. As an Enghsh 

 show Pigeon it has increased in size and in st^-le, but 

 at the expense of its flying properties. To remedy 

 this the Cumulet Club some time since organised a 

 flying section with competitions for the longest flying. 

 Cumulets when on the wing reach such heights that 

 it is impossible for the eye of their owner to follow 

 them, and they will sometimes remain out of sight 

 for eight or nine hours, when " the kit " will sud- 

 denly drop and enter the loft as lively and as merry 

 as though it had only been on the wing for minutes 

 instead of hours. When liberated from the loft 

 " the kit " flies round and round in circles, gradually 

 mounting higher and higher, and in dropping to the 

 loft at the end of the flight the birds approach their 

 loft in the same manner. 



As a fancy or exhibition Pigeon, the Cumulet is 

 most attractive and quite unlike any other bird known 

 to English fanciers. Its clear white eye, and white 

 cere, combined with its snowy plumage marking it 

 out for a distinctiveness entirely its own. It is a bold 

 acti\-e looking bird, very smart and compact in plum- 

 age, and attracts attention by its alert and fearless 



