Head of the Almond. 
H5 
superior, and even — so deceptive is general symmetry in leading the eye to suppose symmetry 
also in detail — appear actually better than the others in head and beak, in which it is actually 
deficient ! 
This point is apt to be less esteemed, because it is less difficult to breed than the others. 
Indeed, if the amateur once becomes possessed of birds with good carriage, there is very little 
doubt of the progeny having the same good quality ; while, on the other hand, if his birds 
are deficient, and arc descended from others which show the same fault, it will be rare for him to 
obtain a good-carriagcd bird. This quality, then, is one of the most surely hereditary — that is, if 
once you get it you can pretty easily keep it, which is not so true of the others. Still, we must 
confess, much as we admire head and beak, we would prefer a bird of only middling quality in 
these points and of super-excellent carriage, to another with the most extraordinary head-points 
and no carriage. Our reason is the same in principle as that given under the last heading. We 
know that the most extraordinary-headed birds we have ever seen have been more or less 
“assisted” whilst in the nest, so as really in great degree to make the head what it was, though, of 
course, very few breeders will “own up” to such proceedings. Still, it is known to be done by 
nearly every successful breeder of short-faced birds ; and knowing it, we would not set the same 
value upon any property which is capable of being partially produced or greatly improved in this 
artificial way, as upon one which owes all its beauty to nature, and cannot be produced or improved 
by art. In a commercial point of view we would of course place far more value upon head-points ; 
but we are here giving our honest opinion as to the properties of the bird, and were we even shown 
a bird perfect all in other points, but possessing no carriage, we would still consider it but a 
second-rate pigeon. 
The proper carriage of the Almond Tumbler is with the head thrown far back in a saucy 
manner, so as to show to the utmost the broad and prominent chest. The fuller the chest appears, 
so much the better. Then the flights should trail or hang down, and the more they do so the more 
do they show both their own colours, those in the tail, and on the rump ; whereas, a bird of bad 
carriage conceals either the perfections or the faults in those important parts. Shortness of leg is 
connected with- good carriage, but is described separately hereafter. All the essentials of good 
carriage will be seen at once on referring to the plates. 
THE HEAD. 
We come next to the head, which most fanciers consider the property of most value in the 
Almond. The first essential point in a good head is height of skull, which shows off well either in 
a front, side, or three-quarter view, as the various representations in the plates sufficiently show. 
Some of these positions are, in fact, almost deceiving, and those who have not seen birds of really 
good carriage in precisely the same attitudes may doubt if any real birds possessed such height as 
there shown ; but this is simply the effect of the position, the heads being very carefully drawn. 
The skull must also be wide, which can, of course, only be seen from a front view. Many heads 
are too wide for their height, however, and it is only those possessing a good height which can 
show the nicely-rounded top which is so much admired. The front of the skull, or forehead, must 
form a good and sudden “ stop,” as it is called — that is, the skull or head should rise perpendicularly, 
or at right angles, from the root of the beak ; not sloping back as in other pigeons. Finally, the 
length from front to back of the skull should be as short as possible. Some birds have a kind 
of projection at the back of the head. This adds to the apparent size of the head, but spoils its 
appearance completely, and looks bad in any position, making the skull appear long. 
The head should be lull at the sides. Very many birds do not show this sufficiently, and 
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