FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VII. 



487 



hackle, white striped with black, as in male; cape, white and black, but 

 is completely covered by hackle when the bird stands erect; tail black, 

 excepting the two highest main tail feathers, which may be edged with 

 white; tail coverts, one or more rows, distinctly covering a part of both 

 sides of the main tail, two rows being preferable, are black edged with 

 white. 



The Light Brahmas are valuable birds for the farm. They have al- 

 ways been made to pay for their keep and have seldom been set aside 

 by any who have bred them. They are the largest of domestic poultry, 

 and do as well in confinement in small runs as on free range. As layers 



they will average from twelve to thirteen 

 dozen eggs a year, and lay exceptionally 

 well in winter. Their eggs are large, about 

 seven to a pound, of a rich brown color and 

 excellent flavor. For table purposes the 

 birds are good; they do not mature as early 

 are do the varieties of the American class, 

 yet they are hardy, and can be raised with 

 as much ease as any of the early-maturing 

 varieties. As sitters and mothers they are 

 fair. 



The Dark Brahmas are not so popular 

 as the Light — the difficulty being in breed- 

 ing them true to feather. Their delicately 

 marked plumage is extremely pretty when 

 bred to standard requirement, but if not so 

 bred it becomes most disagreeable and un- 

 satisfactory to the breeder. The head and 

 neck of a Dark Brahma male are similar to 

 those of the Light, the head being white and 

 the hackle rather more striped. The back 

 is nearly white, a little black appearing here 

 and there. The black should predominate 

 between the shoulders, but is nearly hidden 

 by the hackle flowing over it. The saddle 

 feathers are, like the hackle, silvery white, 

 striped with black, which should be distinct. 

 As the feathers approach the tail the 

 stripes become broader till they merge into 

 the tail coverts, which are rich, glossy, 

 green-black, with a margin or lacing of 

 white. The tail is pure black with green 

 gloss. The wing coverts are black, forming 

 a distinct black bar across the middle of 

 the wings, while the ends of the secondar- 

 ies have a large black spot on the end. mak- 

 ing the top edges of the wings appear almost black. T.he remainder of the 

 secondaries are white on the lower half and black on the upper. The flights 



Fig. 10. 



-Hackle feather of Light 

 Brahma cock. 



