BRAHMAS. 175 



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 centre 

 one being thus higher than the others. 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. The comb should not 

 rise high behind. When first introduced, single-combed 

 Brahmas were occasionally shown, but are now extinct. 



The neck of a Brahma cock should be, if possible, fuller 

 in hackle than a Cochin's, and flow well over very wide and 

 flat shoulders. The saddle rises more, till it merges into a 

 nearly upright tail spread more or less out laterally like a 

 fan, and with more feather than a Cochin's. The breast is 

 deep and full, coming down low another point of difference. 

 There is in the true model less fluff, and the whole plumage 

 is close rather than loose, while the make and general habits 

 are sprightly and active. Generally speaking, the really 

 typical Brahma is square rather than lumpy ; otherwise 

 there is a great deal of general resemblance, and the same 

 remarks as to leg-feather and vulture-hocks apply. The size 

 is about the same, but the highest weights recorded have 

 been in Brahmas, several cocks having been weighed which 

 scaled from 17 to 1 8 J Ib. There are two varieties ex- 

 hibited, known as Dark and Light. Light Brahmas are 

 mainly white all over the body ; but the cock's hackle 

 should be sharply striped with black, and the saddle-feathers 

 either less so, or may be nearly or quite white, which is 

 preferred. The tail and inner flights are black. The leg- 

 feather also has usually more or less black or grey in it. 

 All over the plumage, though white on the surface, often 

 will appear grey under, when the feathers are parted, giving 

 an idea as if the grey or black was in the plumage and the 

 white surface on it. White in Light Brahmas should be 



