THE BRAHMA POOTRA FOWL. 35 



the fowls, but failed. Now, I do not wish to say that the assertion in 

 the Cultivator, that Mr. B. had the Brahma Footras iu 1849, is false, 

 but it looks very much as though there was, at least a great mistake 

 eomewhere. 



Yours respectfully, 



VIRGIL CORNISH. 



I consider Mr. Cornish's letter quite conclusive as to the 

 origin and true name of these fowls ; and were they not sought 

 for in preference to Cochin Chinas and Sanghaes, it is probable 

 that no one would ever take the trouble to dispute the title to 

 their name, as given by Dr. Bennett, one of the original 

 purchasers of this breed of fowls. 



The Brahma Pootras that I own and they are equal to 

 the best in the country are no more like the grey Shanghaes 

 or Chittagongs, than an owl is like a hawk. They are nearly 

 white, except a few hackles upon their necks, &c., as Dr. Ben- 

 nett ha described. They generally have a small pea.-conib 

 resembling that of the Sumatra Pheasant games, but which is 

 never found on the grey Shanghaes, nor the grey Chittagongs, 

 but their combs are always single and serrated. This single 

 fact is conclusive evidence that the Brahma Pootras are not 

 identical with grey Shanghaes, nor Chittagongs. The Cape 

 of Good Hope, Domnique, or the white Shanghae fowls, can 

 with as much propriety be said to be " perfectly identical " with 

 the Brahma Pootras, different as those fowls are, than can be 

 said of grey Shanghaes or Chittagongs. 



In a subsequent allusion to these fowls, Mr. Burnham says : 



"It matters very little what name they go by, however; they are 

 splendid birds, in all respects, and the specimens exhibited at the late 

 Fair in Boston were extraordinarily fine samples old and young. 



"This breed may be feet down as the largest domestic fowl we now 

 have in this country, without exception, unquestionably. The plum- 

 age of this variety is very beautiful a light grey, approaching to 

 speckled or streaked white ; the form is that of the best modeled 

 Shanghaes, the characteristics are the same ; the weight, considerably 

 above the average : and the general appearance very prepossessing. 



At the Fair of 1852, these birds commanded very high prices; and 

 all the good samples that were for sale, were taken up at an early 

 moment after the opening of the exhibition, at round figures. Fifty 

 dollars a pair was paid for the premium fowls, of this breed, and the 

 younger stock was sold at proportionate rates. They are really an 

 extraordinary race, and cannot but become popular, wherever they 

 may hereafter become known." 



At the poultry show in Boston, held in September, 1851, 



