32 THE PEOPLE'S PRACTICAL POULTRY BOOK. 



getting off and on their nests. If the nests were put in the proper place, 

 this fault would be obviated. Always make the nests low on the ground 

 or floor of the hennery is best ; nail cleats around them of two-inch 

 boards, not higher than two and one-half inches, to keep the eggs from roll- 

 ing out, and you need have no fears of any being broken. 



It is said the Brahmas are an Asiatic breed of fowls r and that they 

 were first brought to this country by a sailor, who said he got them from the 

 banks of the Brahmapootra a river that waters the territory of Assam. 

 How true this is we cannot say, but it is claimed that the Brahrnas in this 

 country sprung from this source, and that English breeders are indebted to 

 America for the beautiful fowfe of this breed they possess. These birds are 

 highly prized in England a pair of them having lately been sold for $350. 



DARK BRAHMAS. The Dark Brahmas are claimed by many breeders to 

 be the best of the Brahma variety, but we opine there are just as many who 

 stand ready to claim that the Light are equally as good, if not a better 

 breed. Still some breeders claim that the flesh of the Dark is richer and 

 more palatable than that of the Light. Our opinion is that the difference 

 between the two colors is all/<mcy, one proving just as good as the other, 

 under similar management. Having bred both colors, we have yet to learn 

 the distinctive difference between them. The plumage of the Dark does 

 not show the same mussiness of feather as the Light ; still, if kept in a clean, 

 dry hennery, as fowls always should be, the difference is imaginary. 



The head of the cock should be surmounted with what is termed a " pea- 

 comb," which resembles three small combs running parallel the length of the 

 head, the center one the highest ; beak strong, well curved ; wattles full ; 

 ear-lobes red, well rounded and falling below the wattles. The neck should 

 be short, well curved ; hackle full, silvery white striped with black, flowing 

 well over the back and sides of the breast ; feathers at the head should be 

 white. Back very short, wide and flat, rising into a nice, soft, small tail, 

 carried upright ; back almost white ; the saddle feathers white, striped with 

 black, and the longer the better. The soft rise from the saddle to the tail, 

 and the side feathers of the tail to be pure lustrous green black, (except a 

 few next the saddle,) slightly ticked with white, the tail feathers pure black. 

 The breast should be full and broad, and carried well forward; feathers 

 black, tipped with white. Wings small, and well tucked up under the sad- 

 dle-feathers and thigh fluff. A good black bar across the wing is important. 

 The fluff on the hinder parts and thighs should be black or dark gray ; lower 

 part of the thighs covered with soft feathers, nearly black. The markings 

 of the hen are nearly similar to those of the cock. Both sexes should have 

 rather short yellow legs, (those of the hen the shorter,) and profusely 

 feathered on the outside. The carriage of the hen is full, but not so upright 

 as that of the cock. The markings of the hen, except the neck and tail, are 

 the same all over, each feather having a dingy white ground, closely penciled 

 with dark steel gray, nearly up to the' throat on the breast. 



