82 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 4. 
Come true to their parents ; and there is a marked con¬ 
tradiction in their shape, habits, and properties, to the 
Shanghae fowl, of which they have been termed a variety. 
It will be worth our while, therefore, to allude to the points 
thus relied od. In the first place, we are told that distinct¬ 
ness of breed has evidence in the chickens proving true to 
the colour of the parents; This assurance we ourselves 
received from a gentleman, not merely one of the keenest 
observers of the habits and characteristics of fowls gene¬ 
rally, but also himself an extensive Brahma Pootra breeder. 
But, however convincing might otherwise have been such 
testimony, conllicting facts within our own knowledge pre¬ 
vent our general adhesion to the opinion thence deduced. 
In many instances of imported birds from what has been 
termed the best American strain, the chickens have, 
in both form and colour, presented wide deviation from 
their parents. “ Facts ” are well termed “ stubborn 
thingsand here it seems we must be content to await 
further evidence. If it be urged, that in instances 
where the test of “ like producing like " failed there must 
have existed impurity of blood, we can only reply that we 
speak of birds that were esteemed free from any possible 
blemish in point of blood. 
The chickens, again, are said to be infinitely more hardy 
than those of the Shanghae; braving both frost and snow 
with impunity, and gaining ground even under these adverse 
conditions. But not having seen Brahma Pootra chickens 
(we employ the term for the sake of clearness, not as 
admitting its correctness) at such times, we cannot speak 
from our own knowledge of the fact, but must confess 
ourselves unable to detect auy greater power of resistance 
to wet in the down that covers them in a juvenile state, as 
lias been sometimes stated. But the Shanghae chicken 
possesses a strength of constitution which, hitherto, has 
been unequalled by the young of other fowls; and, indeed, 
could hardly, we should have thought, have been suipassed. 
At any rate, it is so remarkable for the possession of this 
property, that even granting a still greater hardihood to 
the Brahma Pootra, it would be still insufficient to prove the 
required distinction. 
The adult birds are affirmed to be of better form than the 
Shanghae, especially the cocks, in respect of a fuller 
development of breast. In the specimens which seemed 
best to represent the alleged distinctive character, we have 
hitherto failed to notice this peculiarity, although perfectly 
ready to acknowledge that in some pens, whose alliance 
with the Dorking was not only perceptible, but admitted, 
the natural results of such an union were thus manifested. 
In respect of the general character and habits of the birds 
we have been comparing, we receive accounts widely at 
variance with each other. The Brahma Pootra, in some 
cases, is said to wander far from home, and to seek its food 
in distant fields, possessing, moreover considerable powers 
of tlight; while those belonging to the other writers 
are stated as the most “ quiet, docile fowls known, and 
will seldom leave the yard where bred when an opportu¬ 
nity is given to them, unless forced to do so.” Surely 
fowls of widely different character must be here spoken 
of; but Mr. Miner, the American author, from whom the 
last passage was quoted, tells us that his stock were from 
the famed strain of the Brahma Pootra of Dr. Bennett 
himself. A friend, on whose judgment we have the 
greatest confidence, thus alludes to the foregoing in¬ 
ference, “ The wandering disposition of the Brahma 
Pootra is instanced as conclusive evidence of their distinct¬ 
ness. Shanghaes have generally no cause to look for food, 
but it does not appear clear to me, that if Shanglmos were 
brought up in a farm-yard, that they would not search for 
food as well as other fowls. I am inclined to think they 
would, but the result might be a diminution of size.” 
The egg of the Brahma Pootra has been declared ns 
larger and of much higher flavour than that of the Shang¬ 
hae ; but the former assertion is contradicted by facts, and 
our palate has not hitherto been sufficiently acute to detect 
the latter quality. Their vocal powers, again, afford to our 
ear no clue towards distinction. Our conclusion, from a 
careful, unprejudiced consideration of all these pros and 
cons, may thus he briefly givon. So far as these birds are 
yet known to us, they have not made good their claim to be 
regarded as a distinct family. 
Our last query, therefore, is now before us. If the 
Brahma Pootra is not of a distinct family, is it to be con¬ 
sidered as a Shanghae variety, or the result of an illegiti¬ 
mate alliance between that and other breeds ? 
In proposing an answer to this inquiry, our readers must 
again be reminded, that of the birds on which this name 
has been bestowed, many will, by general consent, be in¬ 
cluded in the last-named class. But there are others which, 
in every point of view, appear to us as in possession of all the 
points and characteristics which would establish them as 
a Shanghae variety. So far, indeed, from regarding their 
general figure as adverse to such an hypothesis, it appears 
to us as highly corroborative of this close connexion, for, 
neither in respect of form or feather is there any greater 
departure from the normal type of the Shanghae than we 
witness in birds acknowledged as mere varieties of that 
race. In respect of habits, the evidence is evidently con¬ 
flicting, and, therefore, of little value on either side of the 
question. But the entire absence of proof of the distinct 
habitat claimed for the Brahma Pootra, and the fact of their 
importation from the same districts as have given us the 
Shanghae, strongly support our view of the relation 
existing between them. The colour and size of the egg, 
and their laying properties, are also further links in the 
same chain. ’The Brahma Pootras, we apprehend, have 
hardly as yet been amongst us for a sufficient period to 
admit positive conclusion, favourable or otherwise, to the 
position claimed by their admirers. Our observations on 
form, leather, habits, and properties, therefore, must be 
continued before the final hearing of their case comes on, 
for as yet, present impressions are all that we desire to lay 
before our readers, and these, we must acknowledge, would 
induce us to receive the Brahma Pootra in the same 
position as the black and white Shanghaes, taking colour 
alone as the distinction. 
But there are those who would altogether consign the 
whole tribe of Brahma Pootras to the ignominy of a mon¬ 
grel origin. In this we do not concur. A majority of the 
specimens that have appeared in our exhibition rooms, may 
very probably, have justly incurred this discredit; but, on the 
other hand, there are, we believe, many that have as good a 
title to be called a “ permanent variety," as can be urged on 
behalf of either the “ white” or the “ black” Shanghaes. 
The triple-folded comb has often been adverted to as a 
token of Malay blood, but such a cross would be far more 
likely to give a partially warted, or semi-double comb, either 
of which is distinct from the pea-comb of the Brahma Poo¬ 
tra. The comb of the Shanghae, indeed, as most of us 
know to our cost, is frequently twisted, and we have seen birds 
that have shown this reduplication to an extent that bore a 
close resemblance to the pea-comb of the Brahma Pootra 
itself. 
We believe that birds may be bred from Shanghaes and 
grey Dorkings, or Shanghaes and grey Malays, which would 
sorely test the judgment and discrimination of the best 
Poultry judges when placed in competition with confessedly 
purely-bred Brahma Pootras, and to such descent should 
we be inclined to ascribe a very large majority of the speci¬ 
mens that have appeared at our exhibitions during the past 
year. 
These remarks will, we fear, be at variance with the opi¬ 
nions of some experienced poultry-breeders ; but in the posi¬ 
tion we occupy as recorders of poultry annals, our belief, be 
it right or wrong, must be placed without equivocation j 
before our readers. We are, moreover, satisfied, from what 
has already occurred in the case of Shanghaes, that we are 
acting the most friendly part to the so-called Brahma 
Pootras, by bidding the public pause and await more I 
conclusive evidence,previously to receiving them in a position ; 
to which, at present, their claim has not been substantiated. 
Our suspicions, we may observe, as to their being merely I 
a grey variety of Shanghae, are strongly confirmed by the 
New York Poultry Society having lately renounced the 
name “ Brahma Pootra,” and adopted that of “ Grey 
Shanghaes,” and hitherto the Americans seem to have pos¬ 
sessed a greater practical knowledge of these birds than has 
hitherto been attained in this country. 
We commenced these notes with an allusion to the rca- : 
sons why a denomination that refers to a particular district 
as producing the object on which the name has been be- j 
