Fan-tails, whose plumage is pure white, are more highly
prized than those displaying red, yellow, blue, and black-pied
colors; their carriage of the neck and tail being considered by


PIGEONS. | 85 '


found to degenerate, and are liable to run into still more


Vy 86 PIGEONS.
a


_ ing the young ones.
»*
«


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 across. 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

esemble 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.
