112 PIGEONS. 



streak of white, from whence they derive their- name. In hlue-heards, as in blue 

 bald-heads, the black bars on the wing and end of the tail should be present, 

 and as well defined and dark as possible. As Mr. Brent has justly observed, " The 



THE SHORT-FACED BEARD TUMBLER. 



Blue-bearded Tumblers are not now often seen of accurate markings, more 

 attention being paid to breed them delicate and short-faced than to maintain a clear 

 breast, clean thighs, flight and r imp, a fact which I much regret. A small delicate 

 bird looks well in a show-pen, but very few of them are strong enough to take a 

 lofty flight. I am aware that the head and beak fanciers consider that everything 

 must give way, but those gentlemen that admire the Short-faced Tumblers will, 

 while they enjoy their fancy, allow others to enjoy theirs, and not exclude, as 

 some seem to wish, the flying birds from all exhibitions, for birds with such short 

 beaks that they cannot rear their own young, or so delicate that they cannot be 

 trusted out, and certainly not fitted for lofty flights." 



Among the most valued of the Short-faced Tumblers are those termed Mottles, 

 or Mottled Tumblers. These have a dark ground, black, red, or yellow, and occa- 

 sionally dun, slightly mottled with white on the wings, and sometimes also on the 

 back. TYhen Short-faced Mottles approach the standard of merit laid down by 

 the breeders, they are of very considerable value. The birds should have the 

 head, beak, eye, and carriage of the best-bred Almonds. The ground-colour of the- 

 body should be uniform and sound, either a deep lustrous black, a bright red or 

 brilliant yellow, as the case may be. The tail and flight-feathers, like those of 

 the head and body, should be free from white, and the wing only mottled with 

 white ; though some amateurs desire to see a few white marks on the back 

 between the wings. It is hardly necessary to say that birds possessing all 

 these properties conjoined are very difficult to breed, and their value is propor- 

 tionally high. 



Leaving the Short-faced Tumblers of other colours, we now come to the con- 

 sideration of the most valued pets of the fanciers — the celebrated Almond 



