which case the young are not hybrids, any more than the varie- 

 ties we find amongst domestic poultry. Another question also 

 arises, which is Can any substantial good arise from producing 

 hybrids ? Supposing their flesh is superior to either of the pa- 

 rents, is it worth the trouble to get the produce over and over 

 and over again, as are not the hybrids as a rule generally barren ? 

 I mean those bred between really distinct species. One often 

 hears a person remark amongst domestic poultry that some of the 

 hens being spotted, similar to the black marks on the breast of a 

 cock Pheasant, that they have a cross of Pheasant in them. 

 Now, instances of a cross between the Pheasant and the Domes- 

 tic Fowl are very rarely met with. I have seen the cross, but 

 they were obtained by having the Pheasants confined, and the 

 mules are as much like Pheasants as Cocks, and they vary in 

 colour. One sees other undoubted hybrids amongst birds, but 

 it appears to me anything but desirable to have such mongrels, 

 except as curiosities, as they are not so handsome as the parents ; 

 and are they not generally barren ? I confess that I have a great 

 dislike to hybrids of all sorts. Nothing can be more interesting 

 and beautiful to behold and study than the various species of 

 wildfowl in a domesticated state, but so soon as you mix hybrids 

 with your collection the interest of the admirer of nature ceases, 

 and it only confuses a student who may be desirous to get a 

 knowledge of species seeing these generally useless hybrids mixed 

 with nature's beautiful species. The various changes of plumage 

 that she has given to the various species at the various seasons 

 are quite puzzling enough. No one can imagine why some spe- 

 cies of birds which inhabit Europe and North America appear 

 similar, while in others, though closely allied, there is constant 

 and marked difference. It is probably most advisable to consider 

 at present these differences where they are constant, however 

 trifling they may be, to denote a species, particularly when they 

 inhabit a different portion of the world, and there is little chance 

 of their ever meeting with each other. Some of the domes- 

 tic animals have altered slightly by domestication, except in co- 

 lour, as the Duck; but then probably wild Ducks have been 

 often caught, or hatched and reared, and thus the natural colour 



