28 POULTRY BREEDING 
combed progeny, which invariably comes true as to comb, 
as do the Brahmas. 
Light Brahma.—This is a noble bird, the cock weigh- 
ing 12 pounds and often more. The mature hen weighs 
91% pounds. In this variety the two sexes are colored 
in the same way, both being mainly white with black 
stripes in the hackle feathers and black in the wings and 
tail. Like all the Asiatic class the Light Brahma has 
feathers down the shank to the ends of the outer toes and 
almost to the ends of the middle toes. The chicks are 
slow to mature, reaching full size at 8 or 9 months. The 
pullets begin to lay at about 7 months. The eggs of 
Light Brahmas are very large, frequently going above 30 
ounces to the dozen and of a rich reddish buff color, 
much esteemed in some markets. As a market fowl the 
Light Brahma is considered one of the best, the only 
objection being the feathers on the shanks. It was at 
one time our most popular fowl, but its vogue has greatly 
declined, other and newer varieties having replaced it. 
Dark Brahma.—This variety is identical in shape with 
the Light Brahma, but is not quite so heavy. The males 
weighing 11 pounds and the females 8% pounds, one 
pound less in each case than the Light Brahma. The 
origin of the Dark Brahma is involved in much doubt. 
It first attracted public attention in America at a poultry 
show in New York in 1866, as an importation from Eng- 
land, but it seems that it was before this time sent from 
this country to England, British breeders having merely 
improved the fowls sent to that country. As near as can 
be learned, the Dark Brahma was made up from cross- 
breeding two Asiatic breeds brought over by ship cap- 
tains. These breeds were known as Gray Shanghais and 
Gray Chittagongs. 
