PIGEONS, 
87 
f 
When the birds are accustomed to their houses, they may be 
turned out upon the wing, but only once a-day. A bright grey 
morning is the best time, especially for young birds; and some 
hemp or Canary seeds must be scattered round their cots, to 
entice them in, when their hours of liberty have expired. 
There is a particularly fine variety of this pigeon, which is 
called the “ bald-pated tumbler,” denoted by the cut below, 
from its having a beautiful snowy white head; it has pearl 
eyes, and in plumage is exceedingly diversified; the tail and 
flight feathers, however, match the head, which is pure white. 
When a tumbler, either of a black or blue color, has a long 
dash of white from the under jaw and cheek to a little way 
down the throat, it is called a “ black” or “ blue-bearded” bird, 
BALO-PATKD TUMBLER. 
as the color may be; and if this beard be well shaped, and the 
bird be clean in the tail and flight, as before described, it may 
be reckoned very handsome and valuable. When these 
pigeons are dashing along in the brilliant sunshine, the lively 
contrast of their feathers adds much to the vivacity of their 
appearance. 
There is another and still more beautiful variety of this 
breed, called by some fanciers the “ ermine tumbler,” but 
which is generally known by the name of the 44 almond 
tumbler.” It is an extremely elegant, and highly-prized 
variety, and is derived from common tumblers judiciously 
matched; as yellows, duns, whites, black-splashed, biack- 
^ frizzled, &c., so as to sort the feathers. 
