BRAHMAS. 147 



CHAPTER XV. 



BRAHMAS. 



T is unnecessary to say much about the origin of Brahmas. 

 Exhaustive investigation has shown beyond doubt that the 

 fowl, as imported into America, had an Indian and not Chinese 

 origin, as alleged by Mr. Burnham for reasons of his own. 

 Burnham states that he got even his own birds from Dr. Kerr; 

 and Dr. Kerr himself stated that these came from Calcutta, 

 though it suited Burnham to change this into Shanghai On the 

 other hand, there are too many marks of the same great race as 

 the preceding about them for there to be any mistake on that 

 score. That they are closely allied to Cochins is as certain as that 

 there are many well-established differences both in make and 

 disposition. Whether the Cochin, however, was modified by 

 the Malay and other Indian breeds (which are strongly marked 

 by the pea-comb) into the Brahma, or whether the more active 

 Brahma was further quieted down and domesticated by the 

 Chinese into the Cochin, cannot now be determined. The one 

 thing certain is, that the fowl immediately sprang originally from 

 the comparatively coarse and unformed "Chittagong" fowl still 

 found about the Brahmapootra river, and which some think wag 

 a kind of amalgamation of Cochin, Malay, and Dorking. How- 

 ever this may be, some very fine specimens appear to have 

 reached America in at least two importations, one to Dr. Kerr 

 and another to a Mr. Cornish ; and either from Mr. Cornish's 

 alone, or from both, the Brahma has undoubtedly been bred, 

 somewhat modified by selection, as with all our other races of 

 fowls. 



Ever since this magnificent breed was introduced, it has 

 steadily become more and more popular, and is now one of 

 the most favourite varieties. To prosper thus in the total 

 absence of any poultry " mania," a breed must have real and 

 substantial merits. Such Brahmas unquestionably have, 



