Notes on the J'arions Breeds of Poult ly 



389 



Body— Ditto. 



Legs and fed — Light grey or white. 

 Crest or top-knot — Very full and globular, 

 mixed black and white. 

 Beard — Full and long. 

 Comb — Small and spiked, or slightly cupped. 



The Houdan breed is also distinguished by 

 a fifth claw. 



I have given as many particulars as 1 think 

 necessary to aid in selecting an exhibition 

 pen. There are some varieties of Houdans 

 very dark in colour — the ground black, with 

 very little white ; but the rules hold good for 

 these as for the lighter, only the tail feathers 

 must in the cock be almost black, and the 

 hackles also be of dark hue. Either variety 

 breeds true to colour. I consider them very 

 hardy, much more so than any other breed I 

 know of, and as winter layers they cannot be 

 surpassed. 



3. THE BRAHMAPOOTRA BREED. 



I have alluded to the Brahmapootra fowl, 

 recommending it to be kept along with 

 Dorkings as a valuable variety. It is quite 

 hardy ; the hens lay well, especially in winter, 

 and as they sit early, and are excellent 

 mothers, to them should be entrusted the 

 eggs of Dorkings {laid by pullets in January), 

 and those of non-sitting hens, such as Spanish, 

 Houdans, Hamburghs, &c. Brahmas are, in 

 my opinion, very beautiful ; and although I 

 cannot say they are good table fowls in an 

 adult state, as chickens they are not to be 

 despised. They cross well with the Dorking 

 or French breeds, and very early strong 

 chickens may be obtained in this way. 

 There are two distinct varieties of Brahmas 

 recognized— the light or white, and the dark 

 or pencilled. Both are pure, and breed true 

 to colour. They are easily kept within 

 bounds ; a wire fence 3 feet high is sufficient 

 to confine them to their yards, and they do 

 not require so much range as Dorkings or 

 game. The pullets attain full growth at five 

 months, and begin to lay ; their eggs are of 

 fair average size, and of a beautiful pale 

 brown or buff tint. To those who have only 



a limited space for their poultry, I can strongly 

 recommend the Brahma. It is handsome^ 

 docile, useful, and at present quite the fashion, 

 so the stock commands good prices. A cross- 

 with it improves the mongrel, leggy, small 

 breeds generally seen in farm-yards, and 

 wherever it has been introduced a verj- 

 evident increase in the size of the chickens 

 may be observed. Farmers will not all 

 allow poultry fair play; they consider it. 

 beneath their notice, and do not take pains^ 

 to improve it. I should like to see it re- 

 cognized as part of the live stock, bearing its 

 full value, and as well treated and cared for 

 as — well, at all events — the porcine race !. 

 The sweepings of the hen-house are of quite, 

 as much value as those of the pig-stye ; and 

 if only pure breeds are kept, every head oC 

 poultry will be as zcell sold as pigs at the age 

 of four weeks. True to my sex, I am wander- 

 ing from my particular subject, the description 

 of the Brahmapootra, and must now return to 

 it, to give the exliibition points of both the 

 light and dark varieties, as specified by the 

 " standard of excellence." The points of the 

 cock (dark or pencilled) are as follows : — 



Comb — Pea, small, straight on the head, 

 not leaning to either side, distinctly divided 

 to have the appearance of three small combs 

 joined together, the largest in the middlcj, 

 each part slightly and evenly serrated. 



Head—\Y\\\te and small. 



IJ'attles — Small, well-rounded. 



A^eek — Long, neatly curved, slender near 

 the head. 



Hackle — Full and flo\\ing, well over the 

 shoulders, silver)' white, striped with black. 



Saddle hackle — \'ery abundant, silvery white- 

 striped with black. 



Back — Broad and flat, white. 



Tail — Black and small, carried \-ery upright ; 

 the higher feathers spreading out laterally. 



T/iiglis — Very large, and strong, covered 

 with soft flufty feathers (black, mottled with 

 white), curving inward round the hock, so as 

 to hide the joint. Vulture hocks are objec- 

 tionable, but not a disqualification. 



Legs — Yellow, short, and strong, set well 



