280 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW, 



XXV. 



NOTES ON A HYBRID BETWEEN A BLACK 

 COCK AND A PHEASANT 



BY W. CRAIBE ANGUS. 



With one Plate. [TIL] 

 [Read 24th February, 1885,] 



So far as the occurrence of rare birds is concerned, 

 the past season has been comparatively barren. I 

 have learned, however, to "keep my eye on Paisley"; 

 and by the kindness of the directorate of the Paisley 

 Museum I am able to show to the Society a hybrid 

 between a male Blackcock and a female Pheasant, 

 the occurrence of which has not hitherto been re- 

 corded in Scotland. 



The bird is remarkably handsome, and is one of 

 a pair that were hatched in the coops on the grounds 

 of Loudoun Castle, Ayrshire, in tlie season of 1883. 

 It was killed in December last, and presented to the 

 Museum by the lessee, Mr. Matthew Hodgart. The 

 companion bird, the skin of which is still in the 

 possession of Mr. Hodgart, was shot in November, 

 1883. Both were males, and their flesh partook of 

 the flavour of the Blackcock rather than that of 

 the Pheasant. 



The stomach of the bird last killed contained 

 leaves of iDlants, seeds of the orache (Atriplex)j and 

 quartz. 



In contour, or general appearance, both birds par- 

 take more of the character of the Blackcock than 

 of the Pheasant; but in size they are superior to 

 either, although the bird last killed hardly turned 

 more than 3J pounds. 



The head, back of the neck, rump, and lower sur- 

 face of the body, are of a lustrous bluish-brown ; 

 back, wing-coverts, and outer webs of the primaries 



