Februory 27, 1868. ] 



jOUItNAIi OF HOBTICUIiTUUE AND COTTAGE GAHDKNEB. 



175 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS in the Suburba of London for the week ending February :i5th. 



POULTRY. BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. 



LIGHT AND DARK LRAHMA POOTRAS. 



Allow me to offer a few remarks upon the criticisms on 

 Light Brahmas, by our too-severe friends, " Y. B. A. /.," and 

 "Nejio," and which, if not replied to, would lead reailers not 

 well acquainted with this variety to think it, as " Y. B. A Z." 

 says, a " degenerate " and unworthy race, and one which is 

 most difficult to breed true to its characteristics, and rarely to 

 be seen perfect. I wish to convince your readers there is no 

 truth in the former assertion, and, as the last Birminsliam 

 Show proved, equally little truth in the latter notion. From 

 the lengthened acquaintance I have had with Brahmas, and 

 the share of success obtained since I have exhibited them, 

 more particularly the Light, your readers will, doubtless, prefer 

 the results of my experience to those of persons who have 

 either not properly understood the breed, and, as a matter of 

 course, have not been successful with it, or else with whom 

 individual preference for the other colour overrules more 

 mature considerations. 



Y'our readers must first understand that more than one 

 strain came into this country at or about the same time, and 

 that our French neighbours received them also. Of these 

 strains, Eurnham's, the first sent to Her JMajesty, seemed 

 identical with that of Dr. Bennett — viz., of a " creamy tinge." 

 That of Mr. Garl)auatti, alluded to by '• Y. B. A. Z.," was 

 .similar to the French strain, of a bluish white tinge, either 

 much spotted about the rump and thighs, or streaked about 

 the back ; and Dr. Gwynne's (I believe Miss Watts and Mr. 

 Tegetmeier had the same) of a French or bluish white, quite 

 clear, and much the best in surface colour. The result of 

 these different colours is much improvement iu the present 

 style of these fowls, for what was wanting in the shape of Dr. 

 Gwynne's has been rectified by the Garbauatti and French 

 birds, and the buff defective colouring of Burnham's, or Dr. 

 Bennett's, has been rectified by the French also. Still these 

 did not produce perfect birds ; for the French and Garbanatti's 

 had black tails, not in the slightest degree fringed with white, 

 which they should be, and Dr. Bennett's had the defect of 

 being too white down to the skin. The Americans of the 

 present day breed them almost totally distinct, the head and 

 face being quite different from our grouse-shaped head, having 

 but small heads, and scarcely any wattle, good-shaped bodies, 

 beautiful neck hackles, and fairly feathered legs. Thus we have 

 quite as great a field for discussion upon colour in Light 

 Brahmas as iu the Dark. As the result of my experience, I 

 predict that Light Brahmas with the surface colour of a pure 

 clear bluish white, free from spots or streaks, will be the 

 colour to stand its ground iu the exhibition, and the ground 

 colour for such must necessarily be grey. From thus con- 

 sidering the subject of colour, as a matter of necessity, in my 

 opinion, we treat the variety as birds of colour, which 

 " Y. B. A. Z." does not approve of, but I am compelled to 

 think all exhibition fowls are judged by colour, and the more 

 30 the better. 



I'our readers will, doubtless, see a singular anomaly in 

 "Nemo's" remarks, as applied to someone, and the staring 

 fact of the winning pens having the dark grey ground and the 

 blue white surface colour belonging to some said person who 

 discards the before-mentioned colours. This is easy of ex- 

 planation. "Nemo" evidently wrote without his notes, and 

 his memory did not help him. From my own notes of the 

 late Birmingham Show, I observe the following: — " CorKs. — 

 First prize and cup, Mr. Dowsett's (not Jlr. Parea's as ' Nemo ' 



observes). A good frame, coming three-year-old bird ; of good 

 colour, surface and ground ; fairish neck hackle ; not a good 

 shape. Cockerels. — First, second, and third, Mr. Pares. 

 First prize, good shape, bad surface colour, being very much 

 spotted, particularly on the thighs, and too clean-legged." 

 When " Nemo " spoke of the remarks upon the colour of this 

 cock, he should bear in mind when scanning the colour of the 

 Dark, if they are too light, brown tinged, or badly marked, we 

 quickly say they are a bad colour. The same applies here to 

 the Light cock in question, he was splendidly shown, being ab- 

 solutely without a dirty stain, or in the slightest degree dis- 

 turbed in feather ; but as I said then, we all agreed that hia 

 surface colour was the worst in the class, and I am so much 

 astonished at "Nemo's" defence of Mr. Teobay's judgment of 

 that and other Light cockerels, that I must beg of him to 

 refer to No. 80'2 in the prize list, and 80.3 in the non-prize list, 

 and compare notes. I placed the cockerels thus, and others 

 present agreed — Mr. Pares's third-prize bird first ; Mr. Herbert's 

 highly commended second ; and Mr. P.ares's first-prize third; 

 and iu the value of these, first and third, Mr. Pares agreed 

 with me, and was much astonished when ho knew which of his 

 birds had the first prize. From Mr. Pares's knowledge of Light 

 Brahmas, I value bis opinion as much as that of any person 

 living, and quite agree with him upon the necessity of tlie sur- 

 face colour being white (and free from spots for exhibiting), and 

 the ground colour grey. — F. Crook, I'tiic Cottatie, Forest Hill. 

 P.S. — Referring to "Nemo's" remarks, that the Dark 

 Brahmas are geu'jrally superior to the Light Brahmas, I shall 

 have no objection to show twelve Light Brahma hens against 

 any one person's twelve Dark Brahma hens for a fair amount, 

 age and perfection of colouring and markings to bo amongst 

 the chief points in deciding. I omitted to mention before, that 

 I was so far pleased with the first-prize Light cockerel, that I 

 was anxious to become the purchaser of him, but Mr. Pares 

 did not at that time feel inclined to part with him. — F. C. 



Ix reply to "BENC.iL," I regret to say I was not at Bir- 

 mingham, and therefore have no means of judging, but I have 

 seen within the last few months well-filled Light classes, as to 

 numbers, but the quality with exceptional pens wretched. 

 " Nemo " has in his letter explained the probable reason for 

 this degeneration. 1 must, however, again repeat, and I do it 

 with all the force that may yet attach to the title " Wiltshike 

 Kectou" first gave me, that of " Criticiser of Schedules," that 

 the Light Brahma breeders in asking for a separate cup to both 

 breeds, are asking that which they will never obtain except at 

 a show with a strong Light Brahma bias. I mean, of course, 

 as the gift of the Society ; and supposing the petition granted, 

 all the other varieties would expect equal favour. Brahma 

 breeders have every reason to be satisfied with the position we 

 have obtained for our pets. We have the two classes at 

 most shows, and a single cock class ; in fact, Brahmas, as a 

 rule, receive now as fair treatment at the hands of schedule - 

 framers, as they have any right to expect. Birmingham, 

 perhaps, ought to offer them more money, still I repeat that 

 generally they have fair treatment. I will give the Light 

 Brahma breeders every credit, they have themselves very liber- 

 ally made extra prizes for their favourites. This, I dara say, 

 they will continue to do, and I for one shall bo pleased to see a 

 really better pen of Light birds winning the cup from the Dark. 



I may here just explain an error in my former note on this 

 subject. I said the Dark beat the Light birds amongst other 

 points in length of leg. I should have said in shortness. This 

 is most manifest to any unprejudiced person. 



Thus far I had written, intending to quit a subject on which 

 I feel all sides will never agree, when before breakfast this 



