Characters of Hybrids 



Darwin's view that domestication tends to elimi- 

 nate sterility ; but it is doubtful if this can be 

 upheld. The hybrid between the Muscovy duck 

 (Cairina moschatd] and common duck is usually, 

 at all events, sterile, like that between the pigeon 

 and dove ; yet all these birds have been long 

 domesticated. The hybrid between the fowl and 

 the guinea-fowl is likewise barren, nor has the 

 long domestication of the horse and ass lessened 

 the sterility of the mule. 



Some facts may be noted respecting the 

 characters of hybrids. In the first place, it is 

 important to notice that the characters of the 

 hybrid vary according to the sexes of the species 

 concerned ; thus, the " hinny," which is bred 

 from a horse and a she-ass, is a different animal 

 from the true "mule," which is bred from the 

 jackass and mare, and is inferior to it. 



Similarly, Mr G. E. Weston, a great authority 

 on British cage-birds and their hybrids, informs 

 us that when hybrids are bred from a male canary 

 and a hen goldfinch or siskin contrary to the 

 almost universal practice of using the hen canary 

 for crossing the progeny are inferior in size and 

 colour to the hybrids obtained in the ordinary 

 way. 



Hybrids, in animals at all events, differ from 

 crosses between mutations or colour-variations 

 in not exhibiting the phenomenon of alternative 

 inheritance ; they do not follow one parent or 



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