28 THE BRAHMA POOTRA FOWL. 



through which the Brahmaputra river runs is a flat country, exceed- 

 ingly rich, though perhaps a damp soil. It is much checkered with 

 rivers. The richer the country, the larger the productions, is our 

 rule to go by." In these views, I have no doubt, Mr. Cornish is per- 

 fectly correct. Between the large, light-colored fowls from the Brah- 

 ma Pootra, and the large grey fowls from Chittagong, there is a 

 marked difference, and the person who can not see it, can see no 

 difference between a zephyr and a tornado. This difference we will 

 point out distinctly in its appropriate place. 



Mr. Cornish, in the same letter alluded to above, in speaking of 

 the importation of the Brahma Pootra fowls, remarks : " In regard to 

 the history of these fowls, very little is known. A mechanic, by the 

 name of Chamberlain, in this city, first brought them here. Mr. 

 Chamberlain was acquainted with a sailor -who informed him that 

 there were three pairs of large imported fowls in New York, and he 

 dwelt so much upon the enormous size of the fowls, that Mr. Chamber- 

 lain furnished him money, with directions to go to New York and 

 purchase a pair of them for him, which he did at great expense. Tho 

 sailor reported that he found one pair of light grey ones, which he 

 purchased. The second pair was dark-colored, and the third pair 

 red. The man in New York, whose name I have not got, gave no 

 account of their origin, except that they were brought there by some 

 sailors in the India ships. The parties through whose hands the fowls 

 came, as far back as I have been able to trace them, are all obscure 

 men. I obtained my stock from the original pair brought here by Mr. 

 Chamberlain, and have never crossed them in the least. Mr. Hatch's 

 first stock, I think, were from that pair. These fowls were named 

 Chittagong, by Mr. Chamberlain, on account of their resemblance, in 

 some degree, to the fowls then in the country, called by that name ; 

 but it is certain they never bred until they reached this town." The 

 description of these fowls exactly corresponds with that given by 

 travelers and sea captains, with whom I have conversed, of the large, 

 light-colored fowls found in the valley of the Brahma Pootra, and 

 materially differing from the large, grey fowls found in the state of 

 Chittagong. 



The Rev. R. W. Fuller, of Massachusetts, in a letter to "W. N". An- 

 drews, Esq., of New Hampshire, of Feb. 9th, 1852, says: "I have a 

 rir of Brahma Pootra fowls, of the same breed as those sold by Dr. 

 C. Bennett, for $24 a pair, and I consider them decidedly the most 

 beautiful and splendid fowl ever imported into this country. Their 

 color is white, inclining on the back to a rich cream-color, the hackles 

 on the neck slightly streaked \vith black. The legs are yellow, 

 heavily feathered with white, and shorter than the Chittagong or the 

 Shanghae, giving the fowls a more beautiful proportion. They are 

 very gentle and peaceable in their disposition, and have a stately and 

 graceful gait. Take them altogether they are just the fowls for an 

 amateur to fall in love with, and such as an owner, possessed of one 

 spark of vanity, would desire to keep in his front yard, that all 

 passers-by might behold and admire them." 



Dr. Eben Wight, of Boston, in a letter to the author, of March 15th, 

 1852, in speaking of tjie Brahma Pootra fowls, remarks: "A man in 



