The ycDGi.vG of Brahmas. 267 



JUDGING BRAHMAS. — The chief danger of an inexperienced judge in deciding the merits 

 of Brahmas is that of confounding the Brahma type with the Cochin, from v/hich it is quite distinct 

 in various respects. The breed is better understood now than formerly ; but some few years ago 

 there were in England only three or four judges who really seemed to understand what a Brahma 

 was or ought to be, and even now we sometimes see mistakes evidently founded upon a confusion 

 between the two Asiatic races. But for the services of Messrs. Hewitt and Teebay in particular, 

 who could remember the true-bred fowl as it used to be, the injury done in this way would have 

 been beyond remedy, and it may be well to point out the principal differences which truly characterise 

 the two races. While the tail of the Cochin is as small, low, and soft as possible, that of the Brahma 

 should be nearly upright, of a tolerable size, containing a small amount of quill, and with the top 

 feathers spreading out as before described. The Cochin plumage is of a loose or downy character, 

 while the Brahma should be a hard-feathered breed, the plumage both in cocks and hens lying close 

 and compact ; hence the Brahma, while well furnished, has less fluff than the Cochin, and while 

 square, is not " lumpy" in make. The Cochin should appear quiet and solid ; the Brahma sprightly 

 and active. While the cushion of a Cochin hen is almost globular in form, that of a perfect Brahma 

 hen or pullet should rise more and more, until it merges harmoniously into the nearly upright tail. 

 And, finally, the breast of a good Brahma is deep and full, with the crop low down, thus contrasting 

 directly with the shape of the Cochin, in which breast is greatly wanting. 



Minor differences scarcely need pointing out, with the exception, perhaps, of the peculiar Brahma 

 head, which will always have some attention from a good judge, differing as it does in expression 

 from that of any other fowl. In all but colour it exactly resembles, when perfect, that of a grouse, 

 being short and wide, with a peculiar "knowing" look caused by a slight fulness or breadth over the 

 eyes. This is sometimes so exaggerated as to look coarse and rather sour — such is to be regarded 

 as a decided fault — but, on the other hand, a bird in which this peculiar character is not at all seen 

 is not a good Brahma. The peculiar type of head is best seen in the pullets, and is exactly rendered 

 in the plate of the Dark pullet appended to this chapter ; but a first-class cockerel should also show 

 it plainly. 



Mr. Tegetmeier's numerical scale of points for Brahmas is precisely the same as for Cochins, but 

 that of the American " Standard" in this case difi"ers considerably, as follows : — 



AMERICAN SCALE OF "POINTS IN BRAHMAS." 



Size . IS 



Head and Wattles 5 



Comb lo 



Wings — primaries well tucked under secondaries . . . . lo 



Legs, Colour and Feathering of ...... . S 



Fluff S 



Tail, Form and Carriage of 5 



Colour 20 



Symmetry ........... 15 



Condition ........... 10 



IO!J 



In every case of difference, the advantage as regards accuracy is unquestionably on the side of 

 the American scale, which is founded upon our own, published in a monograph upon this breed in 

 1870. We had not at that time learnt from our American friends the advantages of a higher ideal 



