May il, 187-J. ] 



JOURNAL OF nORTICULTOEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



413 



likeness was so unlike the original bird that, placed side by side, 

 it would not have been recognised. 



An ideutical bird, though of different sex, came into the 

 writer's possession about two years ago, and with much difficulty 

 the former owner and breeder was found, and through him and 

 his family a correct history of the origin of the hybrid was ob- 

 tained. The accompanying illustration was drawn from it by 

 the distinguished artist, T. Kirby Vanzandt, of Albany, N.Y. 

 In the sketch he has succeeded in catching the spirit and attitude 

 of this curious bird. It was presented to the Commissioners of 

 Central Park, New York City, and if still living can be seen 

 there. 



Mr. Matthew Flausburgh, of Stony Hill, Albany County, N.T., 

 in 1865 obtained some Guinea eggs from a neighbour, but not 

 having enough for a sitting, placed with them some eggs from 

 the barndoor fowl ; in due time they hatched and were reared 

 together. The next year two of this brood, a Dominique cock 

 and a Guinea hen, mated. The fact having been noticed by the 

 family, the ovules from their amours were preserved carefully 

 and set with a few Turkey eggs. It is a known fact that hen 

 eggs hatch in three weeks, and Guinea and Turkey eggs in four 

 weeks. This fecundation so influenced the Guinea eggs that 

 they hatched in tliree and a half weeks, while the Turkey eggs 

 hatched in the time 

 which is usually required 

 for them. The chicks 

 from the Guinea eggs 

 presented a snuff colour 

 instead of the striped 

 appearance of the true 

 Guinea young. Only 

 three eggs of this fecun- 

 dation proved fertile, two 

 only living a few days, 

 while one matured, as 

 seen in the engraving. 



Tegetmeier refers to 

 this hybrid, and says 

 that " they are true hy- 

 brids, being perfectly ste- 

 rile and incapable of re- 

 production among them- 

 selves, or with either of 

 the species from which 

 they were derived." Its 

 plumage is mottled, and 

 sprinkled confusedly 

 with brown, drab, and 

 white, freckled with 

 black, the white predo- 

 minating, causing it to 

 appear grey at a distance. 

 It weighed 6 lbs., and 

 stood 13 inches high. 



The cusque of the 

 Guinea fowl was absent, 

 but it had small wattles 

 and a loose pendant fold 

 of skin under its gullet, 

 which was thinly covered 

 with feathers. Its voice 

 resembled the Guinea, 



and it was exceedingly shy and timid. It had no affinity for 

 domestic fowls, but preferred the society of Turkeys, having 

 been reared with them. As the hybrid advanced in age the 

 colour of its plumage grew lighter. 



The Golden Pheasant sometimes crosses with the common 

 domestic fowl. Its progeny is also a true mule, and, like the 

 hybrid just described, cannot be further crossed. 



In order to favour this production the Plieasant must have 

 been bred among domestic fowls. The male Pheasant occasion- 

 ally pairs with a favourite hen, providing he has none of his 

 own species to mate with. It is usual for only a small propor- 

 tion of eggs thus fecundated to prove fertile. The introduction 

 of a Pheasant hen will immediately alienate the attentions of 

 the cock Pheasant from his newly-made mate. 



A friend who had succeeded in rearing this cross once stated 

 that the cock Pheasant was exceedingly capricious, and would 

 sometimes destroy several hena by picking them to pieces upon 

 the rump before selecting one to his entire notion. Mr. Hewitt, 

 who has given this subject considerable attention, describes the 

 cross of the Golden Pheasant cock with five varieties of fowls 

 — viz., Spanish, Game, Buff Bantams, Golden and Silver-spangled 

 Hamburghs. 



All of these hybrids were described as being exceedingly wild, 

 with heads devoid of combs, wattles, or deaf-ear, with tails 

 approaching the conformation of the Pheasant, but not so 

 lengthy. 



In size they far exceeded the hen producing them. In colour 

 they were excessively darker than the hen which produced 



A cross butwten a Tuik(.> hbu uud it GiiUiua cock. 



them, while their shape conformed more closely to that of tha 

 Pheasant. 



The hybrid bred between the Pheasant and Spanish hen at 

 adult age was black, and of a dull sooty hue, with yellow eyes, 

 and weighed nearly 7 lbs. Around the face, instead of beiug 

 white, presented the velvety appearance peculiar to the Phea- 

 sant. 



In the cross between the Black-breasted Red Game hen the 

 scapular and breast feathers were pencilled with as much regu- 

 larity as in the male Pheasant. The ground colour was exceed- 

 ingly dark, and these pencillings were not visible. The face of 

 this hybrid was plain and feathered to the eyelid. The eyes 

 were of a deep hazel. Its weight was about OJ lbs. 



In describing the other three crosses, as much dissimilarity 

 was observed as in those described. Mr. Hewitt remarks that 

 the markings were as variable as they could be, and the birds as 

 pugnacious as it is possible to imagine, and were always sterile 

 and unsociable. 



Another interesting hybrid is a cross between the Musk 

 drake and the common Duck, which produces a mule of sym- 

 metrical form and of various colours. The results of the cross 

 are only useful for table consumption, and when fattened far 

 excel any other variety. They are also sterile. 



A specimen of a cross 

 between the domestic 

 hen and Partridge cock 

 was owned in this city 

 by Mr. Charles. It was 

 a hen, and weighed 2.J lbs. 

 In colour it was yellow, 

 finely pencilled with 

 black, had a single comb, 

 and was compactly built, 

 and, as Mr. Charles re- 

 marked, was heavily 

 meated across the thighs. 

 The flesh was quite dark, 

 like the Partridge. Its 

 legs were blue and 

 slightly feathered. She 

 resembled a young Game 

 cock about the head. 

 The feathers under the 

 wings were heavily 

 barred like a Partridge. 

 The story is thus related 

 in reference to the pro- 

 duction of this hen : — 

 Mr. James Sickles, of 

 Long Island, owned an 

 old yellow hen, which 

 disappeared in tha 

 spring, he supposing 

 that she had died. In 

 the fall she returned 

 with a brood of chickens, 

 followed by a Partridge 

 cock, who, when dis- 

 turbed, flew in an adja- 

 cent tree-top. A hired 

 man observing him, and 

 not comprehending the 

 circumstance, shot at him, bat, missing his mark, the Partridge 

 disappeared and never returned. There were several other 

 chicks in this brood, and every one of the cockerels manifested 

 decidedly Game properties. One of them immediately engaged 

 with a Game cock, and gained decided advantage, although 

 destitute of spurs. This cross was very productive when bred 

 with domestic fowls. — James S. BianEY, M.D. — [American 

 Fanciers' Journal.) 



BOOSTING PLACES FOE CHICKENS. 

 Although, from various indications, I am inclined to think 

 that I am considered an authority upon poultry, there are at all 

 events one or two points upon which I am quite wilUugto admit 

 that I should be glad to learn from others. It is said that Sir 

 Walter Scott was always glad to seize an opportunity of talking 

 with any of his countrymen, however humble his position, as 

 he declared that every Scotchman could teach him something 

 he did not know before, and the readers of his works, probably, 

 owe much more to this habit of his than might at first be sup- 

 posed. Now I am not anxious to be compared to the illustrioua 

 Scott, for when two are compared the weaker must go to the 

 wall ; but respectfully following his example, I can say that I am 

 always glad to talk with those who are interested in poultry, 

 and "that I rarely come across anyone who cannot teach me 

 something. Just now I am troubled about my early chickens ; 

 they have lost their mothers and have left their coops, so that 

 I hardly know where to put them. If allowed to roost the result 



