Eco.voM/c Qualities of Brahmas. 265 



One more example will suffice. From a sitting of eggs purchased from yourself in the spring of 

 1871 I have one hen, beautifully pencilled, which may be fairly termed an exhibition bird, and which 

 has laid most abundantly. I much regret not having had the opportunity of keeping an accurate 

 memorandum of her individual egg-supply, but I am satisfied it is equal to either of the instances 

 n.^med. No matter what the condition of the weather, wet or dry, cold or hot, there has been 

 scarcely any intermission to her daily produce, not even during her moulting season just passed ; 

 indeed I have endeavoured, but without success, to prevent her laying so much. The feeding of 

 my birds has been always of the most simple character, and I have never had recourse to stimu- 

 lating food of any kind, such as is occasionally employed to induce laying. 



" I have thus hastily sketched the result of my own observations ; and am convinced that, by 

 proper selection, a strain of Brahmas can be produced which will reflect credit upon their breeders 

 in the show-pen, as well as exhibit a very profitable " balance sheet " in the large number of 

 eggs they will yield. Add these advantages to their substantial appearance on the table, 

 combined with their excellent flavour; and, to my mind, you have in the splendid Brahma, 

 judiciously bred, a bird which for ornament and profitable service is surpassed by none and 

 equalled by few." 



When it is added to these good qualities that the Brahma seems to thrive and grow alike, with 

 only moderate care, whether on ample grass-range or in the strictest confinement,* while it is as 

 naturally tame and easily managed as the Cochin, though far more sprightly, its growing popularity 

 will cease to excite wonder. Perhaps there is no fowl, indeed, which will suit so many varying 

 requirements ; but it is not, any more than others, perfect, or adapted for all circumstances, and 

 there are many in which it should not be kept. It will not answer, purely bred, as a fowl for the 

 best town markets, being, when young, far less apt to fatten than the Dorking, and the feathered 

 legs being regarded with an absurd prejudice by most London poulterers (the j-ellow skin often 

 charged against it we do not mention, as the best strains of Brahmas are pinky or nearly white). 

 To some extent we are glad to learn this prejudice is wearing ofl', but it still exists, and is an 

 objection to the Brahma as a market fowl. Again, it does not answer where eggs alone are desired. 

 The propensity to sit may be checl^ced, but except in very skilful hands most hens suffer \i altogetlur 

 denied the exercise of this instinct, and frequently perish in moulting afterwards. It is, therefore, 

 only when each hen can be allowed a brood annually that the fowl shows to advantage ; and as the 

 cockerels are quite large enough to kill at three months old, this can be done in many more cases 

 than might be supposed. 



It must also be said that the cocks are very fond of crowing ; and though the note is generally 

 clear, not hoarse and guttural as in the Cochin, it is so powerful as to be often a serious objection 

 against keeping the fowl in town, not being always agreeable to non-enthusiastic neighbours. 



In keeping the Brahma for profit, the treatment must be considered accordingly. From the 

 accuracy of feather demanded in the Dark breed, and which we have already remarked to have 

 in some degree perceptibly deteriorated that variety in other than show points, it will generally be 



* As this goes to press, we have a note Trom Mr. Hewitt so fully bearing out our own remarks on the merits of this fowl that 

 we insert it with pleasure. "There is one thing about your pets, the Brahmas," he says, " worth naming, which is a well-proved 

 fact and quite in their favour, viz., that Brahmas on really damp ground are infinitely more hardy than Cochins. I have known 

 many friends who tried to rear Cochins on constantly damp soil, the result being enlarged hocks and rickety clicitens. On the 

 same runs and with exactly the same care and diet, Brahmas realised every expectation ; and a gentleman hitherto very disconsolate 

 about his Cochins jocosely wrote me : ' Thanks for your advice. With the Cochin chickens at our place I always wanted the 

 doctor; but as for these young Brahmas, they are never sick nor sony, and I think you could hardly kill them with a pick- 

 axe. We have reared over forty without a death or malformation.' I opine these hardy traits of cl'.aiacter sprak strongly as 

 to their utility." 

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