Brahma-Pootras. 101 



CHAPTER XL 



B E A II M A - P O T R A S. 



IT is a disputed point among great authorities whether 

 Brahmas form a distinct variety, or whether they originated 

 in a cross with the Cochin, and have become established 

 by careful breeding. When they were first introduced, 

 Mr. Baily considered them to be a distinct breed, and has 

 since seen nothing to alter his opinion. Their nature and 

 habits are quite dissimilar, for they wander from home and 

 will get their own living where a Cochin would starve, 

 have more spirit, deeper breasts, are hardier, lay larger 

 eggs, are less prone to sit, and never produce a clean- 

 legged chicken. Whatever their origin, by slow and sure 

 degrees, without any mania, they have become more and 

 more popular, standing upon their own merits, and are 

 now one of the most favourite varieties. 



" The worst accusation," says Miss Watts, " their ene- 

 mies can advance against them is, that no one knows their 

 origin ; but this is applicable to them only as it is when 

 applied to Dorkings, Spanish, Polands, and all the other 

 kinds which have been brought to perfection by careful 

 breeding, working on good originals. All we have in 

 England are descended from fowls imported from the 

 United States, and the best account of them is, that a 

 sailor (rather vague, certainly) appeared in an American 

 town (Boston or New York, I forget which) with a new 

 kind of fowl for sale, and that a pair bought from him 

 were the parents of all the Brahmas. Uncertain as this 

 appears, the accounts of those who pretend to trace their 

 origin as cross-bred fowls is, at least, equally so, and I 

 believe we may just act towards the Brahmas as we do 

 with regard to Dorkings and other good fowls, and be 

 satisfied to possess a first-rate, useful kind, although we 



