488 



IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



are all black, except a narrow fringe of white on the lower edge. The 

 breast is black; the thighs and fluff either black, or black very slightly- 

 mottled with white. The shank feathering should correspond with the 

 breast, being black if the latter be black, and slightly mottled with white 

 if not. The shanks are deep yellow, inclining to orange. 



The color of females is a white ground, closely penciled with dark 

 steel gray, producing a beautiful effect, frosted or silver gray in appear- 

 ance. There should be no show of pure white in the plumage except In 

 the margins of the hackles. Unless extreme care be taken in mating, 

 the hens are likely to have a dingy color, and the pullets are apt to have 

 necks almost white for some distance down. These light-necked birds 

 generally breed to worse, but the evil may be remedied by choosing 

 birds for breeding whose heads are distinctly marked. The shape 

 -and character of the markings of the Dark Brahma pullets also vary. 



Fig. 11, -Pair of Buff Cochins. 



They should be medium-sized, so that the pencilings can be clearly dis- 

 cerned at a short distance. A great point in regard to color and marking 

 in Brahma pullets is that it should be uniform over the body, and the 

 hackles should be silvery white, heavily striped with rich black, and the 

 shank feathering penciled same as body. 



For practical purposes the Dark Brahmas are not to be commended 

 as highly as the Light. The close breeding for points in feathers is likely 

 to interfere with their productiveness, yet with proper attention and care 

 they can be bred profitably as well as for beauuty. 



The standard weight of Light Brahma cocks is twelve pounds; hens, 

 nine and one half pounds; cockerels, ten pounds: and pullets, eight 



