General Points of Brahmas. 
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the Brahma, unlike the Cochin, is a close-feathered breed, one of its great beauties is thus to 
ft great extent lost. 
The head of the cock cannot be too small in proportion to the body. This point is not easy 
to attain, and is of great value as a sign of high breeding, being generally accompanied by fineness 
of flesh. The top of the head should be rather wide, with a slight fulness over the eye, but not 
so much as to cause a cruel or Malay expression. The whole head should be rather short and well 
arched ; a long head looking mean, and disfiguring many otherwise fine American birds. The 
comb — known as a pea-comb — is peculiar, but is simply described as resembling three small combs 
joined into one, the centre one being higher than the two outside. It is very difficult, in the cock 
especially, to get this point to perfection until a strain has been bred for years. No pure strain 
ought to breed a solitary comb in which the peculiar triple character is not perfectly distinct ; but 
there is a constant tendency to grow too large, or crooked, or otherwise misshapen, which requires 
to be guarded against like any other fault, if even tolerable symmetry be desired. We would 
never press a merely fancy point too far ; but considering how highly typical the pea-comb is 
in this breed, we would never breed from such a bird, and would hesitate much to award a 
first prize to one, though combs far short of perfection must often be tolerated for the sake 
of more important points. In a perfect comb the centre ridge should be absolutely straight, 
and the whole so low as to be perfectly firm and free from shaking, however quickly the bird 
moves his head. We would prefer half-an-inch in height, but even three-quarters, if straight 
and well-shaped, makes a beautiful comb ; above that we should say there was a tendency to 
getting too large. With regard to the shape of the comb, some prefer a uniform rise from 
the front towards the back, ending in a peak something like that of the Hamburgh, though 
not so sharp or defined ; and this is the original, and, till lately, the usual American type. 
But we like far better to see the comb, after rising for half or two-thirds of its length, decrease 
again towards the back, thus forming a kind of arch ; and this form of comb not only, as 
we think, looks better to the eye, but is far more likely, according to our experience, to 
breed well than the other, which has a tendency to grow larger each successive generation. 
The arched comb is now almost everywhere preferred to the peaked. The comb should be 
handsomely set above neat and cleanly-cut nostrils, the beak being rather short, thick at the 
base, and with rather a decided curve : but too much curvature, or what is termed a hawk- 
bill, is a great blemish, giving a sinister aspect to the bird. 
In all the original Brahmas the deaf-ears fell below the wattles. It is often seen so still, 
and the perpetuation of this point should be carefully sought as far as possible ; but a prominent 
place cannot of course be given to so secondary a character. 
The neck of the cock should be unusually full in the hackle, and as much arched as possible, 
giving the appearance of stately pride. Just below the head, the hackle should start out with a 
very convex and clean sweep, making the junction of the head very distinct by an apparent hollow 
or depression. It should be long, and full enough to flow well over the back and shoulders ; and 
with its full and graceful curve, which is almost peculiar to this breed, and rather reminds an 
observer of the neck of a spirited horse, adds greatly to the noble carriage and appearance of the 
bird. The neck may be either rather long or rather short, according to the general style of 
the bird all over; each has its beauties and its admirers, and each has contended successfully 
in the show-pen. The short neck harmonises best with a square compact body, somewhat 
resembling the Cochin in character, and is well shown in our plate; while a somewhat long 
neck, well arched, and combined with the proper type of tail, gives, in our opinion, a more 
commanding and noble appearance. 
