34 THE PEOPLE'S PEACTICAL POULTRY BOOK. 



LIGHT BEAHMAS. Pure Light Brahma fowls are chiefly white in color of 

 plumage, but if the feathers are parted, the bottom of the plumage will ap- 

 pear of a bluish-gray, showing an important distinction between them and 

 White Cochins, in which the feathers are always white down to the skin. 

 The neck-hackles should be distinctly striped with black down the center of 

 each feather. The plume of the cock is often lighter than that of the hen ; 

 the back should be quite white in both sexes. The wings should appear white 

 when folded, but the flight feathers are black ; the tail black in both cock and 

 hen ; in the cock, however, it is well developed, and the coverts show splen- 

 did green reflections in the light ; it should stand tolerably upright, and open 

 well out laterally, like a fan ; the legs should be yellow and well covered 

 with white feathers, which may or may not be very slightly mottled with 

 black ; ear-lobes must be pure red, and every bird should have a perfect pea- 

 comb, though fine birds with a single comb have occasionally been shown 

 with good success ; but, as a general thing, the pea-comb fowl shows off to 

 the best advantage, and attracts universal commendation by both the amateur 

 and breeder. 



THE CHITTAGONGS. 



Years ago this breed of fowls was looked upon as possessing a great 

 deal of merit, but in these latter days of Brahma and Cochin fever they have 

 been lost sight of, and we scarcely hear the name of Chittagong mentioned ; 

 though we firmly believe the Buff and White Cochins owe their parentage 

 to a cross with the Chittagong and Shanghae breed. KEEK'S " Ornamental 

 Poultry Breeder " says the plumage of the Chittagong is very showy and of 

 various colors ; the birds being exceedingly hardy. In some, gray predomi- 

 nates, interspersed with lightish yellow and white feathers in the pullets ; the 

 legs being of a reddish flesh-color, and more or less feathered ; the comb 

 large and single ; wattles very full, wings good size ; the model is graceful, 

 carriage proud and easy, and action prompt and determined. The flesh of 

 this breed is delicately white. The cocks, at eight or nine months of age, 

 weigh from nine to ten pounds, and the hens from eight to nine pounds. 

 They do not lay as many eggs during the year as smaller hens, but they lay 

 as many pounds as the best breeds. The Red variety of Chittagongs are 

 smaller than the gray ; legs being yellow and blue ; the wings and tail short ; 

 comb single and rose-colored. An ordinary pair will weigh from sixteen to 

 eighteen pounds. In the dark-red variety the cock is black on the breast and 

 thighs ; the hens yellow or brown, with single serrated comb ; legs yellow 

 and heavily booted .with black feathers. The Chittagongs as a breed is 

 quite leggy, in many instances, the cock standing twenty-six inches high, and 

 the hens twenty-two. 



THE COCHIN CHINAS. 



Birds of this breed are becoming more and more favorites with the gen- 

 eral breeder, not only in England, but also in this country. They are de- 

 servedly high in the standard of merit in this country on account of their 



