136 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
this cross are excellent layers, and seldom evince a desire to incubate This also applies to the Brown 
Leghorn cross. A friend of mine has tried the latter, and speaks in the highest terms of their economic 
qualities." 
Our own practical experience of the Brahma has been exclusively confined to the Light Variety ; this 
extended over some years. We found them very hardy and easily reared, the cockerels, however, arriving 
slowly at maturity, looking most ungainly and awkward until fully developed, the pullets furnishing and 
arriving at maturity much earlier. The hens are moderate layers of rich, well-flavoured es^gs, the best of 
sitters and good mothers. The cocks are very gallant and attentive to the hens, and at times very pugnacious 
if disturbed. We have seen a Light Brahma cock put to rout a Modern Game cock. The Modern or 
Exhibition Light Brahma with which we are acquainted is of a vastly different type to the original Brahma, 
and the types fostered in America and Great Britain are also somewhat different, the Australian birds being 
bred on the lines of the latter. The abundance of feathering on the Modern Show specimen, especially on 
the shanks and toes, is a more or less useless appendage when the breed is kept for utility purposes, the hens 
frequently, in abundance of cushion and fluff, closely approaching the Cochin type, this latter feature being 
quite foreign to the breed. The I>ight Brahma in America is esteemed for its general all-round useful 
properties, the hens being good layers and the cockerels excellent for tal)le requirements. As previously 
remarked, they differ considerably in type from the English and Australian Light Brahmas, also being longer 
on the leg, tighter-feathered, and, in some high-class laying strains, with scarcely as much shank and toe 
feathering as the Modern Langshan. To the eye of an Australian breeder these birds look gaunt and 
awkward, wanting the great masses of soft feathers to round off their rather angular joints, and give them 
grace and beauty. The American stamp is undeniably more active, more vigorous, better foragers, and 
absolutely the best for utility purposes. Breeding for Exhibition points of excellence has wrecked more than 
one breed's utility, and this applies very strongly to most of the Australian strains ot Light Brahmas. For 
crossing with other varieties the Brahma is a valuable variety. With the Spanish or Minorca, gives an 
excellent layer of large eggs ; with the Indian Game, a superlative table fowl of great size, though rather slow 
growth ; with the Dorking, a splendid table bird, arriving at maturity fairly early ; and with the Houdan a 
quickly-maturing bird with the finest and juiciest of flesh. Bred pure, and for egg-production alone, the hens 
will closely approach the best of the Mediterranean varieties in the quantity and weight of eggs laid per 
annum ; and the cockerels, though of rather tardy growth, command a good price for market. Though the 
Brahma will cross well with the varieties named, it is not well to cross them with the majority of other breeds 
indiscriminately, as the stock so bred would have a very mongrel appearance. We have, however, tried the 
Malay-Brahma cross, and as a table fowl it proved to be one of the finest, with immense frame and very 
meaty, especially on breast, thighs, and wings, some of these cross-bred cockerels weighing 9 lbs., live weight 
at eight months old. In colour they much resembled the Dark or Coloured Dorking. We found the 
pure-bred birds thrive remarkably well ; notwithstanding great variations in temperature, from extreme heat 
to severely cold weather, always appearing lively and active. They are a variety very suitable to the Farmer 
who can give them unlimited range over grass, and under these conditions will give an excellent return. No 
prettier or more attractive sight can be imagined than a flock of Light Brahma pullets in full feather roaming 
over the green sward. 
Schedule for Judging Brahmas. 
general characteristics — cock. 
Head and Neck. — General appearance of head very short, small, and intelligent. Beak., short, curved, 
and stout at base ; Comb, triple or pea, the centre ridge being the highest, the whole being small, low, and 
set firmly on the head, the middle ridge being perfectly straight, and evenly serrated ; Wattles, moderate n 
length, thin, fine in texture, and pendant ; Ear-lobes, fairly large, and hanging almost level with the 
wattles ; Neck, well proportioned, nicely arched, and abundantly covered with long flowing hackle feathers, 
which should flow well over the shoulders and back, and come well forward ; Body, general shape large, 
deep, and full, but tight and compact ; Ba:k, wide and short ; Saddle, broad and large, with a gradual rise 
