THE SHORT-FACED TUMBLER. 125 



which mil greatly facilitate their speedy matching to their new mates. They will 

 frequently be a very long time in matching in the loft, where they can both see and 

 hear each other, and sometimes will not match at all. 



"If they continue obstinate, a handful of rape or hemp seed should be given 

 them occasionally ; and if the cock is very violent, and fights his hen, an open 

 lath partition should be put across the pen, to separate them, so that they may 

 only see each other, and they will soon match by this method, which will be 

 ascertained by the hen's sweeping her tail, nodding her head, &c, which is called 

 showing." 



These very practical directions from " The Old Fancier " on the management 

 of this most artificial and delicate breed, include all that need be said upon 

 the subject, with the exception of the treatment of their diseases ; but as their 

 disorders are similar to those affecting the other varieties, it will be more 

 desirable to consider them in the chapter specially relating to the diseases of 

 pigeons. 



It may be of interest to state that Columbarian societies, for the encourage- 

 ment of this particular breed, have existed in London for above a hundred years, 

 and that the rules and standards, as laid down by them, still exist. Mr. Eaton 

 reprints the rules published, with an engraving, in 1764. They are as follow : — 



ORDINANCES ESTABLISHED BY THE COLUMBARIAN SOCIETY, 

 AT THE GLOBE TAVERN, FLEET STREET, 



RESPECTING THE 



PERFECTIONS OE IMPERFECTIONS OF ALMOND OR ERMIN TUMBLERS. 



1764. 



Perfections. 

 I. Feather. 

 Consists of three colours, viz., Black, White, 

 and Yellow, intermixed, or variously and 

 richly displayed. Ground, the best Yellow. 

 The Rump, Yellow and Spangled. Tail, the 

 most Yellow and striped. 



H. Head. 

 To be Round and Small. The Forehead, 

 High. The Beak, Short and Small. The 

 Eye, a bright pearl colour round the Pupil. 

 in. Shape. 

 A Small Body, Prominent Chest, and Good 

 Symetry. 



Ijipehfections 

 I. Feather. 



Ash Colour, or Blue, Barr'd on the 

 Flight. 



II. Bead. 

 Thin, Long Snouted. Beak, Long and 

 Thick. Eye, all Black or Red, or broken 

 colour. 



III. Shape. 



Long Body. Large, with Small Chest. 



Ijipehfections inadmissible at a Shew foe the Pbize. 

 Blue Ermins, Ermins with entire blue tails, and Ash coloured Ennins. 



In commenting on this table, Mr. Eaton remarks that, on looking at the por- 

 trait which accompanies the ordinances as a frontispiece, he thought it was the 

 same plate that accompanies the Treatise of 1685 ; but that careful examination 

 showed him there were slight differences. 



Respecting the birds represented, he justly remarks that, as compared with 



