PIGEONS. 
f 86 
Some persons discriminate a variety which they call the 
“ narrow-tailed shaker;” but this is only a degenerate breed of 
the fan-tail, or the result of a cross. Its neck is shorter and 
thicker, back longer, and it has not so many tail feathers as the 
broad-tailed shaker; neither does it expand its tail so fully, but 
keeps the feathers rather closed one over the other, so as to 
resemble a fan when some little way open. The color of its 
plumage is generally white; but a few different tints, and even 
an almond variety, are to be met with occasionally. 
TUMBLERS. 
These pretty pigeons are so called from their peculiar habit 
of tumbling backwards in the air when on the wing; besides 
which, they soar to so great a height as to be almost lost to the 
view; when flying, they congregate very closely together; and 
if they be good birds and accustomed to each other, they will 
maintain such a compact flight, that a dozen may almost be 
covered with a large handkerchief. 
If the weather be warm and bright, they may be allowed to 
wing their aerial gambols for four or five hours in succession ; 
but care must be taken, that no other species of pigeon mix 
with them, for if they once become familiarised and fly with 
others, they will gradually drop their highly-prized mode of 
flight, and of course become worthless. They should never be 
let out on a dull, heavy, misty morning, nor when a fog appears 
to be rising, nor during a high wind; as all such atmospheric 
variations, by causing desertions rom their lofts tend to 
diminish the stock. A hen tumbler should never be allowed 
to flv while with egg. 
The most esteemed tumblers do not somerset when swoop¬ 
ing along, but only when they are beginning to rise, or when 
coming down to pitch; and to preserve this, and the high-flying 
properties in his stock, the provident fancier must spare no 
expence in the purchase of one or two first-rate birds that have 
been used to soaring, as they will be of much service in train- S 
ing the young ones. 
