558 
ILLUSTRATED STOCK DOCTOR. 
The Magpie, without doubt, is the most pleasing and the most 
widely-cultivated of any of the numerous varieties of pigeons. A 
cursory glance might lead one to suppose that this pigeon could be 
readily produced in plenty of passable quality, but this is not the expe- 
rience of all who. breed this variety. However, it can not be denied 
that much progress has been made in perfecting this breed. The 
Magpie, though now regarded as a distinct bird, is doubtless of Tum- 
bler origin, in common perhaps with other of the toy varieties. 
Tumbler pigeons are fast gaining favor among fanciers. Among 
the varieties of Tumblers are the following: Long-faced Tumblers, 
Outside or Flying Tumblers, and Inside or Parlor Tumblers. Under 
the Long-faced Tumblers are included the several beautiful exhibition 
varieties, as distinguished from the Flying Tumblers proper; not but 
that some of the show birds would doubtless render a good account of 
themselves in the air, if put to the test. 
The Long-faced Tumbler has been commended to the first con- 
sideration of the amateur in pigeon culture, as being eas} 7 to manage, 
hard}'', prolific and — at any rate in the case of the self-colored birds— 
easy to breed of fairly good quality. A start in the fancy can thus be 
made at a trifling cost, and much experience gained of the require- 
ments of pigeons generally, that will enable the novice to later launch 
out into choicer breeds with an assurance that he knows something of 
the mysteries of the fancy. In the time when pigeon shows were not 
so numerous as they are at the present time, and, consequently, there 
were not the same inducements to breed the higher-class varieties, the 
Flying or Performing Tumbler was extensively bred, more so, perhaps, 
than any other variety. It is most interesting to watch the many 
gyrations of Flying Tumblers, as they move upward and downward, 
now turning backward once, twice, or thrice, then revolving to the 
right or left, and so on. These birds are chiefly bred for their flying 
qualities, little regard being paid to their color and markings, and a 
good kit of trained Performing Tumblers is of great value. 
The Pouter is the fancier s ideal of gentleness and grace, and the 
beau ideal of the loft. The Pouter is a large bird, with a long, slender 
body; the legs are long and straight, and are in well-proportioned 
birds about seven inches long. The carriage is perpendicular, so that a 
line would run from the eye to the feet. The head is rather long and 
oval, with a sufficient length to accord with a neat wattle; the eye is 
small in proportion to the size of the bird. The crop is the chief point 
of interest in this variety. This feature is the one which severs all 
similarity to the other species. The crop should be large and round 
when inflated, and possess an amount of elasticity that will prevent its 
hanging loose and flabby when the bird is at rest. 
The color and markings of the Archangel place it foremost in the 
favor of lovers of a lustrous plumage. The wings, back, and rump 
are dark, as well as the flight feathers, the latter, however, being diffi- 
cult to get. The tail is also dark in color, though it is generally a 
blue-black, except a bar of black at the end. The head, neck, breast. 
