1922.] Recently published Ornithological Works. 365 



Phillips on breeding hybrids. 



[A- further report on species crosses in Birds. By J. C. Phillips. 

 ' Genetics,' Baltimore, vi. 1921, pp. 366-383 ; 5 figs.] 



This paper deals with some further experiments in cross- 

 breeding Ducks and Pheasants, and is to be taken as a final 

 report on these investigations, which were reported on in a 

 previous paper (Jouni. Experimental Zoology, xviii. 1915, 

 p. 69). The general conclusion arrived at is that when the 

 crossings are between closely rehited species inheritance 

 follows the Mendelian rules, but when the species are 

 genetically or widely apart morphologically great difficulties 

 arise, crosses are difficult to obtain, and when obtained are 

 often themselves infertile ; moreover, plumage patterns and 

 colours are affected by so many factors that the majority 

 of segregates are more or less intermediate. The paper is 

 illustrated with photojjraphs of some of the variations 

 obtained, and is of considerable interest to students of 

 heredity. 



Schaanning on a new race of Blackcock. 



[Bjerkreim-Orren. Lyrums tetrix hjerkreimensis, subsp. nov. Med 8 

 plancher, 3 tekstfiguren og 1 kartriss, av H. Tlio. L. Schaanning; 

 pp. 1-25, 1921.] 



Tl;is little pamphlet, which has no indication of being an 

 extract from any journal^ contains an account of a curious 

 race or variation of the Blackcock. It would best be 

 described as a semi-albino. The cock retains the blue-black 

 head and neck of the ordinary type, and the underparts 

 are also black, though in some s|)ecies they are brownish. 

 The back, wings, and tail are white with a varying amount 

 of Inown or black speckling. The hens are also pale and 

 semi-all)inistic. 



]Mr. Schaanning has drawn up a list of forty-eight examples 

 of this type, and has himself examined about thirty-two of 

 them. Far the greater number have been obtained in 

 the southern portion of Norway between Stavanger and 



