THE BRAHMA POOTRA FOWL. 31 



ties ; deeper breasted, but shorter quartered ; are more active ; better 

 layers ; and are more uniform in color and size. No one, but a stupid, 

 who has ever seen the Chittagong and Brahma Pootra fowls, side by 

 side, would ever suspect their being the same breed, or would so pro- 

 nounce them, unless influenced by mercenary, corrupt, and unworthy 

 conniderations so to do. The Chittagong fowl is frequently crested, 

 the Brahma Pootra never. 



It is true that a cross-breed of fowls derived from the great Ostrich 

 and grey Chittagong fowls, and to which I gave the name of Brahma 

 Pootra from their resemblance to that breed, arc crested, occasionally, 

 and frequently of a buff color ; but no one ever pretended that these 

 were not a cross, or that they were the pure Brahma Pootras, though a 

 very, excellent variety of fowls. Of this cross-breed, the committee 

 of the Poultry and Bird Exhibition, at the Fitchburg Depot, on the 

 2d, 3rd, and 4th of October, 1850, in their "Report," say, page 2, 

 " The Burrampooters shown by Dr. Bennett, were among the largest 

 and most showy domestic birds exhibited. They resemble the Chit- 

 tagongs strongly ; are grey in plumage, and come from stock imported 

 directly from the valley of the Burrampooter, (or Brahmapootra,) 

 India. It is stated that this species attain to the enormous weight of 

 twenty-three to twenty-five pounds per pair, at maturity. They 

 clearly originate in a cross of the Chittagong, and ' Ostrich ' fowl of 

 the East. The crower and two pullets, sent in by Dr. Bennett, were 

 magnificent samples." 



The Boston Traveler in speaking of these fowls, observes : 



"These promise to be decidedly the largest birds in America. 

 Beautiful in their appearance, and the prevailing color of their plu- 

 mage is white or light fawn. They excel the Chittagongs or the im- 

 ported Chinese in quality, averaging at maturity not less than twenty- 

 Jive pounds a pair ; good layers, and the flesh is of a most superior 

 quality." 



The pure Brahma Pootras are not the cross-breed here alluded to, 

 but a perfect breed &s perfect as the black Spanish, the Guelderland, 

 or the white Dorking. Of the pure Brahma Pootra fowls, in addition 

 to the persons above named, B. Bignon, Esq., and Charles Collins, 

 Esq., of Georgia ; Rev. N. S. Smith, of New York ; Dr. A. H. Gross, 

 of Pennsylvania ; Samuel "Wood, Esq., of Maine ; and R. R. Winslow, 

 of Ohio, have excellent samples. 



The eggs of the Brahma Pootra sell readily at $6 per dozen ; and 

 some have sold at $1 each, or $12 per dozen. 



JOHN C. BENNETT. 



Fort Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa. 



Dr. Bennett is one of the most extensive fowl fanciers in the 

 United States. He was the originator of the "New England 

 Poultry Society," was Professor of Midwifery, &c., in the 

 University of Lake Erie, and subsequently "Major General of 

 Division, and Quarter Master General of the State of ^ Illinois," 

 and still later Professor of Surgery, <fec., in the Third street 

 Medical College of Cincinnati. His opinion is entitled to respect. 



