POULTRY. 453 



BRAHMAS. 



RAHMA fowls, sometimes formerly called Brahma Pootras, have within a few years 

 past become very popular, and are now regarded as one of the most desirable of the 

 many favorite breeds; in fact, we know of no breed that is better adapted to the general 

 poultry keeper s use, or that is regarded with more favor, their gentle disposition, quiet habits, 

 laying qualities, as well as the fine quality of meat which they furnish for the table, placing 

 them in the first ranks of the valuable poultry breeds. There has been quite an extended 

 controversy among breeders respecting the origin of the Brahma, some holding to the opinion 

 that this breed originated in a cross with the Cochin, others that it is entitled to rank as a 

 distinct variety from Northern India. The argument in favor of the former, being the large 

 size of the fowl, feathered legs, color of eggs, and formation of skull, while the adherents to 

 the latter opinion have the strong argument in the unique and exceedingly peculiar comb, so 

 entirely different from that of other breeds, the color, prominent breast-bone, different dispo 

 sition and habits generally, together with the authority of the most eminent breeders in their 

 favor. &quot;We quote the following description of the Brahma from &quot;Wright s Practical Poultry 

 Keeper, a well-known authority on both continents: 



&quot; Their most marked peculiarity is the comb, which is totally different from that of any 

 other variety. It resembles three combs pressed into one. In a first-class cock, the effect is 

 such as would be produced were a little comb, about a quarter of an inch in height, laid close 

 to each side of his own proper comb, twice as high, the center one being thus higher than the 

 others. Each division of the comb ought to be straight and even, irregular or twisted combs 

 being serious faults in a show pen. In the hens the comb is very small, but the triple 

 character should be equally evident, and the formation is quite plain, even when the chicks 

 first break the shell. 



&quot;There are two varieties of Brahmas exhibited, known as &quot;Light,&quot; and &quot;Dark &quot;or 

 &quot;Penciled&quot; Brahmas; and on no account should they be crossed, the result being, according 

 to Mr. Teebay, who was formerly the most successful and extensive breeder of Brahmas in 

 England, always unsatisfactory. The cross may be known, if the birds profess to be &quot;dark,&quot; 

 by the lighter, gayer appearance of the cock s breast, perhaps accompanied with large white 

 splashes, and sandy colored or brownish patches about the pullets; this, however, must not 

 be confounded with the brownish tinge which nearly all dark Brahma hens acquire with age. 

 Should the fowls be offered as light Brahmas, the pullets will have buff, yellowish, or sandy 

 backs and wings, and the cocks most likely yellowish hackles.&quot; 



The Brahma, like all the Asiatic breeds, is of large size, yet unlike the Shanghai and 

 Chittagong, the meat is of fine texture and delicate flavor, though not quite equal to the 

 Dorkings in this respect. It seems to have taken the place of those old-fashioned breeds, once 

 so popular, possessing all their good qualities, and rejecting the objectionable ones, except it 

 may be an inclination to sit oftener than some varieties, but even this tendency differs greatly 

 with different individuals. The writer had one fine Brahma hen in a flock of ten the past 

 year, that commenced laying when a pullet of six months, and continued to do so with slight 

 exceptions through the winter, spring, and summer, never inclining to sit even once during 

 the year; this is an exceptional case, however. As to size of this variety, the cocks have 

 been known to attain the weight of eighteen pounds, and hens thirteen pounds, and we 

 occasionally hear of their turning the scales at even higher figures than these, but such 

 instances of weight are very rare; even sixteen pounds is regarded as an unusual weight for 

 a cock, and nine to eleven pounds for a hen is a good average weight. Cocks not weighing 

 nine pounds, and hens not weighing seven and a half pounds are disqualified from prize exhi 

 bitions, according to the American poultry standard. Though of large size, Brahmas are not 

 ungainly or awkward, like some of the other large breeds, but on the contrary, very grace- 

 ful in form and movement. 



