SXJLSMAS jLITD LANGSSAirs. flT 



■eek, howeyer, should be a little lighter than that of the hen, as there ii a ilight 

 tendency to breed too dar)c. The saddle feathers in the cock are white, or lights 

 striped with black, those of the hen being white. 



The flight feathers of the wing are black, but when folded they are so hidden 

 as to appear white. 



The tail feathers are black in both cock and hep, and in the cook they open 

 out laterally, like a fan, and the coverts show beantiful green reflcoUono !n tiu 

 light. 



There are few prettier sights in the poultry-yard than a flock of Light Brahmas 

 feeding upon a green lawn, their snow-white plumage picked out with black, and 

 contrasted with the bright red of their ear lobes and wattles. (See illustration, 

 page 6S.) 



In the Diurk Brahma, while the peculiarities of form, disposition, etc., olosely 

 resemble those of the light, the coloring of the feathers is entirely different. 

 The upper part of the body of the Dark Brahma cock, including the neck-hackle, 

 back and saddle, is silvery white, striped with black ; the breast, thighs and under 

 part of the body are pure black, or but slightly mottled -with white ; the feathers 

 that cover the base of the quill feathers of the wing are of a metallic green- 

 black, and form a broad, well marked bar across the wings ; the flight feathers of 

 the wings are white on the outer and black on the inner webs; the seoondary 

 quills, which are visible 'when the wing is closed, have a broad, dark, green-black 

 spot at the end of each feather ; the tail is black, the coverts on each side being 

 of a beautiful, lastrojis green-black, the smaller feathers being edged with white. 

 The shanks should be of a yellow color, and they should, be well clothed with 

 dark feathers slightly mottled with white. 



In the hen the color of the head is gray, the neck-hackle silvery white, striped 

 with black. The remainder of the plumage should be dull white, but so mi- 

 nutely pencilled throughout with dark pencilling as to give the hen a gray color. 

 This variety, like the Light Brahma, breeds remarkably true to color, but any 

 admixture between them will produce birds of uncertain plumage, having sandy 

 colored patches on the backs and wings, and splashes of white or blaok on the 

 breasts. Even when the pullets from such a cross breed tolerably true to color 

 the first year, they are nearly sure to moult much worse in color the second 

 year. (See illustration, page 63.) 



LANGSHAKS. 



This breed of fowls was discovered in or near the year 1872, by a nephew of 

 Major Croad, of the British army, who was traveling iu the interior of Ohina 

 for scientific purposes. The fowls were discovered in the Chinese district of 

 Langshan, hence their name. 



They bear considerable resemblance to the Black Cochins ; differing in having 

 dark colored, instead of yellow legs ; in being of more erect habit, resembling 

 the Brahmas in this respect ; in possessing a better quality of flesh, being white 

 and fine grained ; and in being less disposed to sit. 



The plumage of the Langshans is wholly of an iridescent black color; the 

 fowls are of large size, the cocks weighing ten pounds and the hens eight pounds 

 or over when well grown. The hens are said to be among the very best of layeci. 



