General Characteristics ot Draiimas. 249 



fo attain, and Is of great value as a sign of high breeding, being generally accompanied by fineness 

 of flesh. The top of the head should be rather wide, with a slight fulness over the eye, but not 

 so much as to cause a cruel or Malay expression. The whole head should be rather short and well 

 arched; a long head looking mean, and disfiguring many otherwise fine American birds. The 

 comb— known as a pea-comb — is peculiar, but is simply described as resembling three small combs 

 joined into one, the centre one being higher than the two outside. It is very difficult, in the cock 

 especially, to get this point to perfection until a strain has been bred for years. No pure strain 

 ought to breed a solitary comb in which the peculiar triple character is not perfectly distinct ; but 

 there is a constant tendency to grow too large, or crooked, or otherwise misshapen, which requires 

 to be guarded against like any other fault, if even tolerable symmetry be desired. We remember 

 once seeing a cup cockerel, in which the triple character of the comb was just discernible, the 

 member resembling an almost shapeless mass of red putty, the size of a moderate egg, and hanging 

 considerably over on one side. We would never press a merely fancy point too far ; but con- 

 sidering how highly typical the pea-comb is in this breed, we would never breed from such a bird, 

 and would hesitate much to award a first prize to one, though combs far short of perfection must 

 often be tolerated for the sake of more important points.* In a perfect comb the centre ridge 

 should be absolutely straight, and the whole so low as to be perfectly firm and free from shaking, 

 however quickly the bird moves his head. We would prefer half-an-inch in height, but even three- 

 quarters, if straight and well-shaped, makes a beautiful comb ; above that we should say there was 

 a tendency to getting too large. With regard to the shape of the comb, some prefer a uniform 

 rise from the front towards the back, ending in a peak something like that of the Hamburgh, 

 though not so sharp or defined ; and this is the original, and, till lately, the usual American type. 

 But we like far better to see the comb, after rising for half or two-thirds of its length, decrease 

 again towards the back, thus forming a kind of arch ; and this form of comb not only, as we think, 

 looks better to the eye, but is far more likely, according to our experience, to breed well than the 

 other, which has a tendency to grow larger each successive generation. The arched comb is now 

 almost everywhere preferred to the peaked. There were till very lately some splendid yards of single- 

 combed Light Brahmas in existence, which we think would run some oi the present exhibitors a close 

 race for prizes; but single-combed birds are now almost lost, and stand no chance whatever at a srood 



o 



show. The comb should be handsomely set above neat and clcanly-cut nostrils, the beak being 

 rather short, thick at the base, and with rather a decided curve : but too much curvature, or what 

 is termed a hawk-bill, is a great blemish, giving a sinister aspect to the bird. 



In all the original Brahmas^the deaf-ears fell below the wattles; and this point was even 

 mentioned by Dr. Bennett as a characteristic of the breed. It is often seen so still, and the 

 perpetuation of this point should be carefully sought as far as possible ; but a prominent place 

 cannot ol course be given to so secondary a character. 



The neck of the cock should be unusually full in the hackle, and as much arched as possible, 

 giving the appearance of stately pride. Just below the head, the hackle should start out with a 

 very convex and clean sweep, making the junction of the head very distinct by an apparent hollow 

 or depression. It should be long, and full enough to flow well over the back and shoulders ; and 

 with its full and graceful curve, which is almost peculiar to this breed, and rather reminds an 

 observer of the neck of a spirited horse, adds greatly to the noble carriage and appearance of the 

 bird. The neck may be either rather long or rather short, according to the general style of the 



* Since the decided expression of our opinion on this subject was first published, there has been a most marked improvement 

 ui Bralima combs generally, prjvins that fanciers only needed to have their attention drawn to the subject. 



3^ 



