Good and Bad Qualities of Breeds. n 



into Light Brahmas, Dark Brahmas, Partridge, Buff, White 

 and Black Cochins, and Langshans. The Light and Dark 

 Brahmas differ in appearance only in plumage, though the 

 Lights have been bred more carefully for utility than the 

 Darks v They have stood the test of several decades, and are 

 as great favorites to-day as at any previous period. The ad- 

 vantages possessed by the Brahmas are pea-combs and short 

 wattles, which fit the heads closely and enable the birds to en- 

 dure exposure without being subjected to frosted combs and 

 wattles a great advantage in a cold clime. They are also 

 heavily feathered, being protected with short, fluffy down on 

 every portion of the body, while their powers of digestion en- 

 able them to consume large quantities of food, and thereby 

 not only to create a sufficiency of animal heat, but also to lay 

 during the cold season under disadvantages that would be 

 fatal to some breeds. Hence many persons, while admitting 

 the Brahmas to be excellent layers, do not approve of their 

 capacity for eating a large amount of food, which, however, 

 is really an excellent and necessary qualification instead of be- 

 ing a cause of objection. As they cannot fly, low fences easily 

 confine them, while they also usually lay dark-colored eggs. 

 The Brahmas, however, are heavily feathered on the legs and 

 to the ends of the outer toes, even the middle toe being cov- 

 ered. This is objectionable where the ground is damp and 

 muddy, often causing the feet to become frozen. Some care 

 is also necessary in feeding them, as they readily become fat, 

 after maturity, and then cease to lay. They seldom begin 

 laying before they are eight months old, but if fed judiciously, 

 they lay well at all seasons. As market fowls their yellow 

 legs and skin, as well as their bodies, render them very at- 

 tractive, and when crossed upon other breeds they always ef- 

 fect an improvement. 



The Cochins differ very little from the Brahmas, so far as 

 hardiness and general market purposes are concerned ; but 

 they are more compact in body, and have single combs, yellow 

 legs and skin, are feathered probably even more heavily on the 



