250 The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 



bird all over; each has its beauties an J its admirers, and each has contended successfully in the 

 show-pen. The short neck harmonises best with a square compact body, somewhat resembling 

 the Cochin in character, and is well shown in our plate ; while a somewhat long neck, well arched' 

 and combined with the proper type of tail, gives, in our opinion, a more commanding and noble 

 appearance. Such birds used to be bred by Mr. Teebay, and their lofty stature and bearing, with 

 their proud and spr'njy gait, were something to be remembered. We sometimes see them even 

 now, and all that needs be said in regard to this point is, that the whole contour of the bird should 

 be such as harmonises well and makes a pleasing whole. 



The back should be wide, and flat across, but very short, the saddle appearing to take its rise 

 almost from the base of the neck. A round back is of course a great deformity, and so is want of 

 width, a narrow bird being of very little value. The saddle must be very broad, and rise well 

 towards the tail, without which there cannot be true symmetry and proportion. We have seen 

 cocks with the back and saddle actually sloping downwards to the tail, which looks especially bad, 

 being contrary to the haughty carriage so conspicuous in this breed. The saddle-feathers should 

 be long and abundant, so as to flow well over the points of the wings. 



The proper tail of the Brahma cock is very peculiar, though it is verj- rare to see it 

 approaching perfection. Some breeders appear yet to aim at the horizontal soft tail of the 

 Cochin; but since we drew special attention to this matter a few years ago, we have been glad to see 

 much improvement in that respect, and especially that Cochin tails have been much discouraged 

 by our best judges. The true tail has been variously described, but usually by saying that it 

 should open out laterally, the sickles especially, "like a fan." It has also been said that the tail 

 thus spread open resembles that of the black-cock ; but, in reality, the resemblance was originally 

 far more close than this vv-ould imply. By Mr. Teebay 's kindness, we were enabled to give a clear 

 description of the Brahma tail as it used to be ; and since then we have seen it approached on 

 several occasions, and have once or twice bred it ourselves, though it is not yet easy to produce, 

 having been for a time so nearly lost. "The true inside tail," he says, " I like closed, e.xcept the two 

 highest feathers (sometimes /"w/r used to be so). These should be very broad, and lay nearly or 

 quite Jlat, not too long, and the ends turning outwards each way, and projecting on each side 

 thrcicgJi the curved or sickle-feathers. Such feathers are never seen except in tails set much more 

 upright than most exhibited now. They were very subject to be broken in the exhibition baskets 

 or pens, on account of their projecting through the other feathers. The whole inside tail spreading 

 out, as Wdi also often seen, I do not like. I have frequently noticed the feathers crossing in the 

 lower part and re-crossing again higher up, as in the sketch. When there are two pairs the higher 

 pair is generally rather smaller, and they do not actually cross, though there is always a similar 

 peculiar bend, which is, I believe, caused by their being set into the rump so near to each other, 

 and growing together while the young quill is hardening." From the sketch and actual feathers 

 which were sent us with these remarks by Mr. Teebay, Vv'e add a representation of these peculiar 

 black-cock feathers which belonged to one of his own old birds. If the drawing (Fig. 6"^, which is 

 exactly two-thirds the natural size, be raised till nearly upright, what is meant by this eminent 

 judge and breeder will be readily seen, and the resemblance to the tail of the black-cock will 

 appear marked and striking. Indeed, the heads of the pullets, the very character of their 

 pencilling, the feathered shanks of both sexes, and the tail of the cock, ofi'er repeated and 

 cumulative points of resemblance to the grouse, which furnish one of the most singular examples 

 of what Mr. Darwin terms " analagous variation" in widely different species known to us 

 throughout the whole range of natural history. 



The breast of the cock should be deep, full, broad, and rather projecting, the breast-bone 



