266 HYBRIDISM. 



quatus, are perfectly fertile. M. Quatrefages states that 

 the hybrids from two moths (Bombyx cynthia and arrindia) 

 yere proved in Paris to be fertile Inter se for eight genera- 

 tions. It has lately been asserted that two such distinct 

 species as the hare and rabbit, when they can be got to 

 breed together, produce offspring which are highly fertile 

 when crossed with one of the parent-species. The hybrids 

 from the common and Chinese geese (A. cygnoides), species, 

 which are so different that they are generally ranked in 

 distinct genera, have often bred in this country with either 

 pure parent, and in one single instance they have bred 

 inter se. This was effected by Mr. Eyton, who raised two 

 hybrids from the same parents, but from different hatches; 

 and from these two birds he raised no less than eight 

 hybrids (grandchildren of the pure geese) from one nest. 

 In India, however, these cross-bred geese must be far more 

 fertile ; for I am assured by two eminently capable judges, 

 namely, Mr. Blyth and Captain Hutton, that whole Hocks 

 of these crossed geese are kept in various parts of the coun- 

 try; and as they are kept for profit, where neither pure 

 parent-species exists, they must certainly be highly or 

 perfectly fertile. 



With our domesticated animals, the various races when 

 crossed together are quite fertile ; yet in many cases they 

 are descended from two or more wild species. From this 

 fact we must conclude either that the aboriginal parent- 

 speciec ^t first produced perfectly fertile hybrids, or that 

 the hybnJs subsequently reared under domestication be- 

 came quite fertile. This latter alternative, which was first 

 propounded by Pallas, seems by far the most probable, and 

 can, indeed, hardly be doubted. It is, for instance, almost 

 certain that our dogs are descended from several wild stocks ; 

 yet, with perhaps the exception of certain indigenous domes- 

 tic dogs of South America, all are quite fertile together ; 

 but analogy makes me greatly doubt, whether the several 

 aboriginal species would at first have freely bred together 

 and have produced quite fertile hybrids. So again I have 

 lately acquired decisive evidence that the crossed offspring 

 from the Indian humped and common cattle are inter se 

 perfectly fertile ; and from the observations by R itimeyer on 

 their important osteological differences, as well as from those 

 by Mr. Blyth on their differences in habits, voice, constitu- 

 tion, etc., these two forms must be regarded as good and 

 distinct species. The same remarks may be extended to 



