The Illustrated Boor of Poultry. 
2 74 
against \ ultm e-hocks as the five points we have retained. It ought to be at least fifteen points, in 
oui cm n opinion. In America this fault is still a disqualification, and much complaint has resulted 
regarding English shipments. 
SCHEDULE FOR JUDGING BRAHMAS. 
General Characteristics of Cock. — Head atid Neck — General appearance of head very short, small, and intelligent ; 
beak abort, curved, and stout at the base ; comb triple or in three ridges, resembling three small combs, the centre being the 
highest, and the whole small, low, and firm on the head, the centre ridge perfectly straight and neatly serrated ; wattles moderately 
long, thin, and pendant ; deaf-ears large, and hanging below the wattles ; neck well-proportioned and finely curved, as in a spirited 
horse, and very thickly furnished with long hackle, which should flow well over back and shoulders. Body— General shape 
large and deep, but tight and compact in make ; back broad and short ; saddle very broad and large, with a gradual and decided 
rise to the tail, so as to form no angle with that member ; wings larger than in Cochins, but still small and neatly tucked up, with 
secondaries carried well under the primaries ; breast full, prominent, and reaching well down. Legs and Feet — Thighs large and 
well-furnished with fluffy feathers, the hocks being entirely covered with soft curling feathers, but free from stiff quills (vulture-hock) 
which are particularly objectionable ; shanks rather but not too short, thick, wide apart, and heavily feathered down the outside, 
the feathering to start out well from the hock, and continue to ends of outer and middle toes ; toes large, straight, and well spread 
out. Tail — Much larger than in Cochins, but still small, carried nearly but not quite upright, and the top pair of feathers curving 
outwards as in the tail of the black-cock ; sickles veiy short, and not curving much downwards, but lesser sickles and tail-coverts 
very abundant, covering nearly the whole sides of the tail. Size — Very large, ranging from eleven pounds to fifteen pounds in 
cocks, and eight pounds to eleven pounds in cockerels. General Appearance — Very symmetrical and compact. Carriage — Noble 
and commanding, with the head carried very high. 
General Characteristics of Hen. — Head and Neck — General appearance ol head, very small, peculiarly arch, and intelligent, 
caused by a slight fulness over the eye, which should on no account tend to coarseness ; beak and head rather short, as in the cock; 
comb as small as possible, a large loose comb being particularly objectionable ; deaf-ears well developed ; wattles nicely rounded, 
neat, and free from any folds ; neck short, very full in hackle, and free from twist in the hackle. Body — General shape square 
and neat ; back wide, flat across, and short ; cushion broad and large, not convex or globular as in Cochins, but rising to 
the tail ; wings moderate in size, and well tucked into the fluff and cushion-feathering ; breast very prominent, low down, and full. 
Legs and Feet — As in the cock, but as short as possible. Tail — Rather shoit, so as not to rise much above the extremity of the 
cushion, and carried nearly upright. Size — Very large, ranging from eight pounds to thirteen pounds in hens, and six pounds to 
nine pounds in pullets. General Appearance — Massive and square, but neat and compact. Carriage — Matronly and dignified, 
both head and tail being well carried up. 
Colour of Light Brahmas. — Ln both Sexes — Beak a rich yellow, with or without a dark stripe. Comb, face, deaf-ears, and 
wattles brilliant red, with as few spiky feathers as possible. Eyes pearl or red, red being preferable. Shanks a brilliant orange- 
yellow. Colour of Cock — Head silvery white ; hackle white, striped with black as distinctly as possible ; saddle-feathers either white 
or white lightly striped with black ; tail and tail-coverts glossy green -black, except the two top feathers, which may or may not be 
laced with white. Rest of the body a pearly surface-colour, with grey under-fluff seen when plumage is ruffled ; the secondaries being 
white on lower edges and black on the inner, and primaries black. The shank-feathering white more or less mottled with black. 
Colour of Hen — Head silvery white ; hackle white, heavily striped with bright intense black ; tail black, except the top pair, which 
should be edged with white. Rest of the plumage white on the surface and grey in the under fluff, with wings and leg-feathers as in 
the cock. [American fanciers admit a creamy tinge to the white ; but perfect birds should be of a pure and pearly colour all over. ] 
Colour of Dark Brahmas — Ln both Sexes. — Beak yellow, yellow with a dark stripe, horn-colour, or black. Eyes pearl or 
red, the latter preferable. Comb, face, deaf-ears, and wattles brilliant red, as little obscured by feathers as possible, the beard, or 
feathers under throat, not to exceed moderation. Colour of Cock — Head silvery white ; hackle white, heavily and sharply striped 
with rich black, as free from white streak in centre as possible. Saddle-feathers the same. Back and shoulders silvery white, except 
between the shoulders, where the feathers should be black laced with white. Upper wing-butts black ; bow silvery white ; bar, or 
coverts, glossy black “ shot ” with green ; secondaries white on outside web, which is all that appears when wing is closed ; black on 
inside • the end of every feather black. Primaries black except a narrow white edge on outside web. Breast, under parts, and leg- 
feather glossy black, as intense as possible, or black evenly and sharply mottled with small spots of white. Fluff black, or black laced 
or tipped with white. [All black in the under parts preferable for exhibition.] Tail black, richly “ shot ” or glossed with colour- 
white not a disqualification, but very objectionable. Shanks a deep orange-yellow. Colour of Hen— Head and hackle silvery white, 
heavily and sharply striped with black, the marking to extend well over the head. Tail black, the top pair edged with grey. Rest 
of the plumage a silver-grey, dull grey, or steel-grey ground-colour, accurately pencilled over in a crescentic form with steel grey, 
blackish grey, or black ; the breast to be perfectly marked, and free from streaks up to the throat; a chestnut tinge not objectionable 
if of a rich and not dingy character. The leg-feather to be pencilled as the body. Shanks deep yellow, with or without a dusky tinge. 
