CHAPTER 1 Introduction 

“My experiences with the Birmingham Roller Pigeon leave me without doubt at all, that the need for a more informative treatise than hitherto is now an urgent requirement of the fancy at large, if we are to perpetuate and maintain the qualities for which this very old established breed is noted. 

Therefore, it will be my endeavor to present for the consideration of the flying tumbler fraternity, my interpretation of the breed, as I have come to know same after a lifetime of devotion to the cultivation of these pigeons.”

"There is no easy way to successful pigeon breeding, and neither is there any hard and fast rule to follow. At the outset the potential fancier must realize that success depends on himself and his ability to interpret the ideal, and the possibilities of producing same with the material at his disposal."

CHAPTER 2 Performances

“Beginners in the Fancy should try and become thoroughly acquainted with the various ways in which these pigeons perform, and become familiar with the terms used to designate the many different actions and gyrations to be found among Tumblers and Rollers during flight.”

“In a few words, the Birmingham Roller is noted for its exclusive ability to turn over backwards and rotate with inestimable speed for considerable distances downwards. This is the only aerial performer which can boast of a standard.”

“The standard reads as follows: The true Birmingham Roller which turns over backwards with inconceivable rapidity through a considerable distance like a spinning ball”

CHAPTER 4 The Ideal

“Taking the fancy as a whole, there are very few birds worthy of the title ‘Birmingham Roller’. Fanciers who do understand these pigeons and agree on the ideal, do not necessarily have the same ideas as regards breeding them. So many fanciers seem unable to discriminate between common Tumblers and true Rollers. This is because, I suppose, that not all fanciers have had the pleasure of seeing or owning an ideal spinner.”

...

"Every bird in the loft has a value, and it is a complete understanding of these values we must have before we can hope to make any decision as to the benefit we could derive from any certain individual.

Here I would stress the point that we cannot expect to breed high class pigeons by selecting them out of the air, because of some exclusive trait, and by the same token we cannot expect to breed good stock by pedigree alone.”

…

“A first class pigeon looks like one, insofar as the brilliance of the expression which is given off by the texture of the eye, and a correctly designed head, illustrates outstanding qualities for which it was bred. This description is fully confirmed among breeders of long experience, and who will invariably agree in the selection of individuals as seen on the ground, as being representative of the highest quality to be found among Birmingham Rollers”

…

It is of course reasonable to suppose that if a bird does roll and perform to standard it must be of correct type, and carrying with it all the essentials required for the bird to qualify for the stock pen.”