190 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



POINTS IN BRAHMAS. 



Size, .... 3 Legs and feathering, 1 



Color, .... 4 Fluff, . . 1 



Head and comb, . . 1 • Symmetry, . 2 



Wings, primaries well tucked Condition, . 2 



under secondaries, . 1 



9 6—15 



Breeders of Brahmas are earnestly requested to study the 

 above points. The Brahma' fowl has become, perhaps, the most 

 common of all the distinct breeds, and the fixing of a more defi- 

 • nite standard than has been generally recognized seems neces- 

 sary, in order to save your future committees from obvious em- 

 barrassment. We take the liberty of making a few general 

 suggestions upon other breeds. The Hamburg varieties must 

 have slaty blue legs. In the Leghorns, yellow are preferred, 

 though white is not a disqualification. Dorkings of every color, 

 must have white legs, inclining to pink. Games may have 

 willow, olive, white, yellow, blue or bronzy black legs — the colors 

 preferred in the order in which they are named. The color of 

 the hen's legs should match those of the cock. 



The noble family of Game fowls was represented by ten coops 

 many of them of great beauty, though few were in good feather, 

 our exhibition occurring too early in the season to do justice to 

 the old or the young birds. There is, perhaps, no breed more 

 truly valuable for the farmer than the Game. Its good qualities 

 are so evenly balanced that, for general purposes, it has no su- 

 perior, perhaps no equal. The hens are excellent layers, the 

 best of all setters and mothers, being active, vigilant and fear- 

 ing nothing when they have their young broods around them. 

 They are also remarkably hardy. The cocks are very gallant, 

 seldom or never taking a dislike to one of the flock and persecut- 

 ing her unceasingly, as is not unfrequently the case with many 

 other breeds. They are brave, but not quarrelsome, seeming to 

 feel conscious of their superior strength and skill, and as if dis- 

 daining to engage with foemen unworthy of their steel. They 

 take little or no notice of the young cocks growing up under 

 them. If attacked, a true blooded Game cock will fight to the 

 death ; but after an experience of many years, we are convinced 



