THE POULTRY BOOK. 
73 
the first year, she will most likely moult brown on the shoulders, and become quite 
unlike her original colours in her second season. A few of the cockerels so 
bred are pretty fair in colour, but they are always far more spotted with white on 
the breast than the true-bred pencilled birds ; hence by some persons they are pre- 
ferred, as they look gayer in colour to the eye, but if the fancier that admires these 
cocks once breeds from them he will never again choose another male bird for the 
beauty of his breast. 
“Light Brahmas that have the least mixture of the pencilled breed in them breed 
pullets with sandy buff-coloured backs and wings, some darker and some lighter, 
but seldom produce pullets clear white on the back. These pullets also moult much 
worse in colour in the second year ; they are very frequently much marked on the 
lower part of the back, many of the cockerels have cream-coloured hackles like 
those that are bred from a light Brahma hen and a buff Cochin cock : the birds 
from this latter cross, however, are so different in shape from the true Brahmas 
that they are easily known by any one who has tried the experiment, though 
•occasionally a cockerel is produced without creamy hackles and much like a true 
Light Brahma in colour.” 
Mr. P. Jones, one of the earliest admirers of Brahmas, thus sums up their 
value as profitable poultry : — 
“ The chief points of merit in both varieties of Brahmas consist, first of all, 
in their hardihood and rapid growth as chickens, cockerels at four months old 
frequently weighing over 51b., and early pullets sometimes laying at the same 
age. If required for culinary purposes, they will be found at this age to possess 
whiter, more tender, and juicier flesh than Cochins, — will also stand confinement 
in a small space equally well ; but if they have the advantage and opportunity of a 
run, will forage for themselves much better. In common with their first-cousins, 
they are most excellent winter layers, and do not age so soon ; some hens at four 
and five years old looking, after moulting, and in a good run, as fresh as two-year- 
olds.” 
In concluding our account of these birds we cannot do better than quote the 
following very fair description of their merits from the pen of one of their oldest 
admirers : — “ Brahmas,” writes Miss E. Watts, “ as good useful hardy fowls, are un- 
surpassed. They are good layers of good-sized eggs, good foragers (when they can 
have their liberty), and good sitters and mothers. The chickens fledge more 
kindly than the Cochins, grow fast, and are exceedingly hardy ; old and young take 
good care of themselves, and often recover from ailments which would carry off any 
of a less hardy sort. We know no other chickens which are so hardy as they, are 
and reared with so little trouble and loss. 
“We have no hesitation in pronouncing these the most useful fowls we have kept. 
They are very good for the table, putting on flesh readily, and being much more 
juicy and much better in form for this purpose than the generality of Cochins. 
They are decidedly smaller eaters than Cochins, and greater lovers of an extensive 
range, v^^hich they turn to account in foraging for themselves. Notwithstanding, 
H 
