The Illustrated Bools of Pigeoxs. 
156 
the old birds, can then generally be reared. Another good food to be given in the same tvay is 
the semi-fluid white of a half-boiled egg ; indeed, we have found this most strengthening and 
nourishing of all, and have saved birds by it that without would certainly have died. Birds thus 
snatched from an early grave seldom make what can be called strong ones, of course ; but it is 
often well worth all the trouble, even if they only live a fetv months, in order that the breeder may 
know what class of birds a pair which he has perhaps mated for the first time produces, either in 
feather or other points ; for very few can tell the difference between an Agate, Almond, Red, 
or Splash, when in the nest-pan, until about the age of three weeks. If then the young be the 
first produced, it is often well worth while to save a bird even for that brief space, to ascertain the 
character of the produce. Other colours can be foretold. If the beak be black it is sure to be a 
Kite ; if the beak be white or light horn-colour, and the bird show no down on the body, but the 
skin be bare, then it will be a Yellow: if not, a light-coloured Yellow Agate ; but for other colours 
there is no certain rule till about three weeks old.* We know some experienced breeders can tell 
rather sooner in general ; but often even they are deceived by a bird they had fancied was an 
Almond turning out an Agate or Splash. Of course, as soon as the flights and tail-feathers appear, 
if there be a break in the feather— or, in other words, if two colours plainly appear — then it 
must either be an Almond, or an Almond-splash. 
The class of birds which make the best feeders for Almonds are plain Bald-heads or Beards 
(i.e., not Short-faced), Turbits, English Owls, Magpies, Jacobins, &c. All very heavy-beaked birds 
are obviously unsuitable ; but beyond this the variety is of little importance, the essential points 
being good feeding qualities and a tame and confiding disposition. The last is as important as the 
first, for the young Almonds need much watching, and a wild bird, though a good feeder, is apt to 
fly off the nest in alarm when disturbed, and perhaps will not go on again till the young bird is 
fatally chilled. The feeders should always be kept in a separate loft where possible, for fear of even 
a chance cross, which would be unmistakable in its effects, much more a permanent mesalliance. 
As to the loft, we have before said that those already described will answer well, as will any other 
good plan. It is only especially necessary with Short-faces to have the nest-pans on the floor, 
because the hen is the weakest of all varieties when laying, and very frequently is quite unable to 
fly up to a shelf ; so that unless properly accommodated, eggs are apt to be laid on the ground and 
broken. We have only to add, respecting breeding and rearing, that it is as important to give the 
best food and plenty of flying exercise to the feeders as to the Tumblers themselves, simply for the 
reason that their soft food is then more abundant and of better quality, and that the young birds, 
being so delicate, demand everything in their favour, except injudicious “coddling,” that can 
possibly be afforded them. 
We have only to add, in relation to the breeding of Almonds, that on account of the greater 
* The author of the “Treatise on the Almond Tumbler,” published 1802, from which Eaton copied so much of his work, 
gives, at page 44, the following “Marks by which to ascertain the colours of young birds in the nest : if the beak has no mark 
on it, but is quite white, the bird will be an Almond. If the beak is white, and has a little patch of black somewhere about it, this 
will probably be a Splash ; but should it be an Almond, it will most probably have a great deal of black about it. If the beak be 
crossed on the point with a black stripe, or cross, rather inclining to blue, the bird will be a Black, and not a Kite. If with a deep 
blue mark, it will be a Blue, which colour is very objectionable ; and if the pair should throw this colour more than once, they 
should be parted, and were they mine I should part them the first time. If with a black mark, rather inclining to or having a faint 
tinge of red, it will be a Kile, and most likely a rich one. If with a slaty-coloured mark, it will be a Dun. If with a straw-colour, 
a Yellow. If with a deeper straw-colour inclining to red, an Agate. And if with a deep red, it will be a Red, or Red-mottled 
bird.” This may have been partly true at that time ; but at the present day we know many of these statements to be contrary to 
fact, and we do not think more can be safely affirmed than we have said in the text above, and do not in fact see how any rules can 
be correct in all cases for birds bred so variously as are Tumblers, 
