THE POULTRY BOOK. 
71 
the Cochins : at the present time, those possessing pea or flat triple combs are held 
in much higher estimation. The deaf- ear or ear-lobe is large and pendant in both 
sexes, the wattles comparatively small and well rounded. 
The characters of the breed, as above given, apply to both the lighter variety 
first introduced, and now universally known at our poultry shows, as Light 
Brahmas, and also to the darker, or, as they are frequently termed, the Pencilled 
birds; but the colour of these varieties is so distinct that they will require a 
separate description at our hands. 
The Light Brahmas are characterized by the general white colour of the body, 
breast, and thighs. The neck hackle should be marked with a distinct black stripe 
down the centre of each feather ; there is a tendency in the cocks to come light 
in the hackle — a defect which very greatly detracts from the beauty of the birds. 
The saddle feathers in the cock are also striped with black, those of the hen 
being white. The first ten flight feathers, or primaries as they are termed, are 
black ; but as the secondary quills, which alone are visible when the wing is 
closed, are white on the outer web, consequently the dark colour of the wing is 
not visible wLen folded. In the cock the tail is black, the tail coverts being 
beautifully glossed with green, the lower ones being margined with silver, as are 
the two highest tail feathers in the hen. The shanks in this variety should be 
brilliantly yellow, well clothed with white feathers slightly mottled with black. 
The contrast of colour afforded by the white plumage, delicately picked out with 
black, and the brilliant red of the face, comb, ear-lobes, and wattles, render these 
birds particularly attractive ; hence they are never without their admirers, and the 
Light Brahma class is always a striking one at the poultry exhibitions. The 
accompanying engravings represent very accurately the arrangement of the colours 
and markings on a light cockerel and pullet of the single-combed variety. 
The Dark or Pencilled Brahmas are very distinct in colour from the light 
variety. We will take the description of the cock in the first instance. The upper 
part of the body, including the neck hackle, back, and saddle, is silvery white 
striped with black ; the breast, under part of body, and thighs black, slightly 
mottled with white. The feathers that cover the bases of the quill feathers of the 
wings are of a metallic green black, and form a broad well-marked bar across the 
wings. The quill feathers of the wings, or flight feathers, are white on the outer and 
black on the inner webs. The secondary quills, those 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 either side being of a beautiful lustrous green black, the 
lesser feathers being edged with white. The shanks should be of a yellow colour, 
which sometimes partakes of a dusky shade, and they should be well clothed with 
dark feathers slightly mottled with white. 
The colour of the hens may be briefly described. The head is grey, the neck 
hackle silvery white, striped with black. The remainder of the plumage, says Mr. 
Teebay, should be dull white, minutely and distinctly pencilled throughout with 
