raising them fully attest their worth as a practical bird to the industry. The Brahma is a characteristic fowl; it is unlike other varieties, and it should not be confounded in shape with the Cochin.

The average Light Brahma male is in height 26 inches; with full, broad, and round breast, carried well forward. The fullness and oblong shape is typical of the Brahma and is characteristic of prolific birds. The curves of neck and back are similar to those of the outlines of an egg.

In plumage the male is pure white, excepting hackle, tail, and flights, which are black, and white striped with black. The hackle is white with a black stripe extending down the centre of each feather and tapering to a point near the extremity. The tail feathers are black, and sickles are glossy, greenish black. The shanks are well feathered, with the feathering extending down the middle toe. A small pea comb, broad crown, projects over the eyes: bright red face, wattles and ear lobes are essential to a good head. The shanks and toes are bright yellow.

The Brahma female is much like the male in head qualities, having broad comb, projecting well over the eyes, and small pea comb. The head of female should be masculine in appearance. The head is white, hackle, white striped with black, as in male; cape, white and black, but is covered by hackle when the bird stands erect; tail black, excepting the two highest main tail feathers, which may be edged with white; tail coverts, one or more rows, distinctly covering a part of both sides of the main tail, two rows being preferable, are black edged with white.

The light Brahmas are valuable birds for the farm. They have always been made to pay for their keep, and have seldom been set aside by those who have bred them. They are the largest of domestic poultry, and do as well in confinement in small runs as on free range. As layers they will average from twelve to thirteen dozen eggs a year, and lay exceptionally well in winter. Their eggs are large, about seven to a pound, of a rich, brown color, and excellent in flavor. For table purposes the birds are good; they do not mature as early as do the varieties of the American class, yet they are hardy, and can be raised with as much ease as any of the earlier-maturing varieties. As sitters and mothers they are fair.

The dark Brahmas are not so popular as the light-the difficulty being in breeding them true to feather. Their delicately-marked plumage is extremely pretty when bred to standard requirement, but if not so bred it becomes most disagreeable and unsatisfactory to the breeder.

The standard weight of ught Brahma cocks is 12 pounds; hens, 9 1-2 pounds; cockerels, 10 pounds, and pullets 8 pounds. The standard weight of Dark Brahma cocks is 11 pounds; hens, 8 1-2 pounds; cockerels, 9 pounds, and pullets, 7 pounds.

COCHINS

The four varieties of Cochins are very popular with breeders. They are second to the Brahmas in meat breeds, weighing but a pound lighter than the light Brahma. Old and experienced breeders of Cochins are pronounced in praise of their qualities as profitable fowls. They are hardy, good winter layers of rich, brown, medium-sized eggs, and fairly good table fowls. chicks grow well and develop rapidly under proper care.

The

The buff variety is the most generally bred; their color tone offers an attraction that is hard to resist. Both male and female are of a rich, deep,

clear buff, uniform in shade throughout, except the tail, which should be a deeper buff or copperish bronze, under color same as surface color, but of lighter shade, and should extend to the skin.

The Partridge Cochin is a beautiful fowl, yet difficult to breed, and in plumage is much after the pattern of the Dark Brahma, the color being red and brown, instead of the steel-gray effect of the latter.

The Black Cochins are much more easily bred than either of the varieties thus far mentioned. Being of one color, the care bestowed in breeding particolored or pencilled birds is not necessary, and the time may be spent in furthering their general utility in egg production. A one-colored bird is the more practical bird for the farmer and market poulterer. The Black

Cochin is of a rich, glossy black plumage throughout. The White Cochin ís pure white in plumage.

The standard weight of Buff, Partridge, and White Cochin cocks, is 11 pounds; hens, 8 1-2 pounds; cockerels, 9 pounds, and pullets, 7 pounds. Black Cochins are of the same weight, excepting cocks, which should weigh 10 1-2 pounds.

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Langshans are the smallest and most active of the Asiatic class. practical in more senses than one, and their prolific laying and other excellent qualities make them profitable for the farmer and market poultryman. They constitute one of the oldest breeds of poultry, and have always been held in popular esteem. The shape of the Langshan is distinct from that of the Brahma or Cochin, and should not be confused with either of the lastnamed breeds. Fig. 7 shows the accepted contour of the Langshans, and a comparison with the birds in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 shows at a glance the characteristics of the Langshan as compared with the other Asiatics. Langshans have

white flesh and dark legs, while the others are yellow-skinned and yellowlegged. The quality of the flesh of the Langshans is excellent, being fine grained, tender and nicely flavored. As layers they rank among the best, averaging from twelve to thirteen dozens a year, and as winter layers they are to be recommended. The chicks are hardy and mature early. Langshans are good sitters and mothers, being of gentle disposition; they are easily kept, either in confinement or on free range. Being excellent foragers, they are ideal fowls for the farm, and will gather during the year a considerable portion of their food.

The Langshan is a stylish, medium-sized bird, not overgrown or gawky in appearance, of active nature, and lively disposition. There are two varieties of Langshans-the Black and the White. The Black in plumage of neck, back, saddle, sickles, a glossy metallic black, with greenish sheen; breast, primaries, secondaries, tail, fluff, shank, and toe feathers, black. The undercolor is black or dark slate. The White Langshan is pure white throughout. The standard weight of cocks for both varieties is 10 pounds; hens, 7 pounds; cockerels, 8 pounds, and pullets, 6 pounds.

Leghorns are the best known of the egg-producing Mediterranean varieties. They are the premiers in laying, and the standard by which the prolificacy of other breeds is judged. As to the origin of the Leghorns, there are differences of opinion, and there is but little information to be found anywhere concerning their early history. That this race has been widely disseminated admits also of little doubt, inasmuch as at the present day it is known in Denmark and other countries as the Italian. There seems to be good ground for the statement that Leghorns were first introduced into America from Italy. The story goes that as early as 1834 a vessel from Leghorn brought

to this country as a part of its cargo a small shipment of fowls, which were at once named "Leghorns." They immediately became popular, their prolific laying and non-sitting qualities being recognized at this early date.

The Leghorn fowl holds the same place among poultry that the Jersey holds among cattle. The question of profit in poultry has been decided in favor of egg-producing breeds. Leghorns are lively, active, and of a restless disposition, the best of foragers, and will pick up a good part of their living during the year. They are light eaters and the cost of raising them to maturity is about one-half that of the Asiatic varieties. They mature early,feather quickly,

the pullets often begin laying when four months old, and cockerels crow at the same age. They are the best layers, averaging between one hundred and fifty and two hundred eggs per year. Their eggs are pure white in color, and weigh about ten to the pound. As table fowls they are fairly good. By many they are considered excellent. The only thing that can be said against them is that they are small in size. Altogether, they are one of the most profitable breeds of poultry that can be kept upon the farm, and the cheapness of their keeping will allow the raising of two Leghorns for the cost of one Asiatic. They must be warmly housed in winter to lay well and to protect their pendulous wattles from frostbite.

There are 6 standard varieties of Leghorns: Black, Brown, Buff, Dominique, Silver Duckwing, and White.

The Black Leghorn is a popular bird, and a favorite with those who are partial to its color of plumage. The Black Leghorn is mistaken by many for the Black Minorca, but is quite different in type. The Minorca is larger in size, has a longer body, larger comb, and dark slate or nearly black shanks and toes. The plumage of the Black Leghorn is a rich, glossy black through