276 Dr Morton on Hybrid Animals and Plants. 



Professor Pallas has described and figured the Peiisa caU 

 which has long been suspected for a hybrid, although very 

 prolific. It may yet prove to be the animal we have just de- 

 scribed. 



Lepine Hybrid, — Amoretti, quoted by Rudolphi, has pub- 

 lished the history of a cross between the European or English 

 rabbit, Lepus cuniculus, and the hare L. limidus.* 



Phocine Hybrid. — ^Finally, among mammiferous animals, it 

 remains to notice the singular fact discovered by the travel- 

 ler Steller, and mentioned by Rudolphi, that the sea-lion, 

 Phocajubata, of Behring's island, produces young with the 

 sea-bear, P. ursina. " I have no doubt of this fact," adds 

 Professor Rudolphi, " since Pallas speaks of Steller with the 

 greatest respect, and Telesius proved the accuracy of his ob- 

 servations." t 



Part II. — Birds. 



Gallinaceous Hybrids. — The variation of size, form and 

 plumage, so remarkable among the different breeds of domes- 

 tic fowls, has been usually attributed to the action of physi- 

 cal agents on a single original species. This supposition, 

 however, is now found to be untenable ; for the best ornitho- 

 logists, and those, too, who have no view to collateral gene- 

 ralization, have succeeded in tracing this family of birds to 

 at least ten diff^erent species. Without appealing to unne- 

 cessary details it is sufficient to observe, that independently 

 of certain admitted changes as the result of domestication, 

 these birds are in farj^^reater degree modified by the power 

 possessed by their several species (so far, at least, as the ex- 

 periment has been extended), of mingling with each other and 

 producing a fertile hybrid progeny. Hence, in a great mea- 

 sure, those interminable varieties of exterior form, size, and 

 colour now everywhere familiar. J 



* lludolphi, Beytrage zur Anthropologie, &c., p. 165. 



t Ibid. Loco citat. — Prichard's Researches, i., p. 142. 



J We have been at some pains to ascertain the specific names of the several 

 original gallinaceous birds; yet without presuming that ornithologists have de- 

 scrib^d all that exist, we append a list of such as are already known : Gallus 



