T RAINING T U MEIERS. 
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rapidity of those simultaneous movements, that a collision is almost unknown even as an accident; 
but if they ‘performed’ with closed eyes, frequent contact would be inevitable. It is then, I think, 
only reasonable to infer that as a rule they tumble and roll with open eyes. 
“ Again, much speculation has been made as to whether or not this singular action of tumbling 
or rolling is an involuntary one. In the case of Mad Tumblers the action is, 1 believe, mainly an 
involuntary movement over which they have little, if any, control ; and this excessive propensity 
arises from the desire of fanciers to propagate ‘long rollers’ (or other kinds which possess the 
peculiarity to an eccentric degree) by mating the extraordinary ones together, and also by close 
breeding, thereby obtaining progeny in each case possessing to a still more remarkable degree and 
in a concentrated form the peculiarities of their parents, until they really cannot venture a foot 
from terra firma without endangering their lives by striking forcibly against any object that may 
chance to be in their way. Such, indeed, arc mad Tumblers, and cannot maintain their equilibrium 
on the wing; but in ordinary or even highly meritorious birds, the habit is somewhat modified. 
There is, of course, in all Tumblers a natural tendency or predisposition to this peculiar action ; 
but in good flying Rollers there is a better balance of good points ; there is a more healthy and 
natural state of things. What (in a good healthy well-balanced natural specimen) may be a semi- 
voluntary impulsive action, may, by injudicious mating or close breeding, be so converted as to be 
regarded as a disease, yet without showing any external signs of disorder or malformation ; and in 
birds with such physically ill-balanced properties (i.c., instinctively diseased) action is undoubtedly 
involuntary, for, as I have said, their movements are so eccentric, that their perfect inability to 
command or control themselves upon the wing must be apparent to any one who has witnessed 
them. But those kinds which can sustain long flights and perform freely, must have control over 
the natural tendency, for were they unable to exercise any such powers there would be no unity 
of action in a flight of them, no simultaneous acrobatic movements such as is the case with good 
fliers, but each bird would be propelled or guided by his own involuntary agency, and aerial 
collisions would be of frequent occurrence. 
“ In the selection of a stock of Tumblers much of course depends upon the tastes of the person 
seeking them, for, singular to say, the poorest-looking ill-assorted things, when viewed in the pen 
or upon the house-top, are often the best workers, and also the prettiest when upon the wing. 
Saddles and Badges certainly appear up aloft to greater advantage, and their gyrations and 
acrobatic revolutions seem to be more complete, and performed in a neater manner by reason of 
their white wings lost to view during their convolutions, the dark body seeming in a smaller and 
more compact ball during its descent when in action ; but the most beautiful and interesting 
collection, to my idea, is a thorough assortment of the various colours of accurately marked birds, 
as they look well either within the pen or upon the wing. 
“On the training of flying Tumblers much might be said, but in reality very little instruction 
is necessary. Each fancier has his own views as to this, and I may say many differ ; but most who 
have business occupations are obliged to conform somewhat to circumstances, and fly their birds 
when they can best spare the time. Undoubtedly the best time for a long fly is early morning or 
in the evening. The birds at either time should be turned out without food, and at once started off 
upon their upward journey, and no birds put up but those which can and will fly. Care must be 
taken to prevent any of the old stock, or new comers, or young birds, alighting on any elevated 
position of their own or any adjoining habitation, or they will regularly cause much annoyance 
and trouble in dislodging them ; the greatest care in fact is required with them at first, and if 
a good plan be adopted and persevered in for a short time, the birds will soon learn to conform to 
it, and know full well the usual course of their daily practice. It would be of little use for me to 
