Crosses, and Importing Specimens. 75 



common pheasant I have heard of many instances, and 

 I can depend on them. I have met with a hybrid 

 between the Silver and the common fowl. A cross 

 known to almost every keeper, from the cocks visiting 

 his poultry, is that of the common pheasant with the 

 domestic fowl. Amherst and Gold produce a grand 

 bird, which readily breeds again, either inter se or 

 with either parent breed, and so produces endless 

 varieties, some favouring the Gold, others the 

 Amherst. Reeves' and the common sort interbreed 

 freely, but I do not know of any instance in which 

 the cross has bred again. I have found, with both 

 Elliot and Soemmerring, that, when crossed with the 

 common pheasant, not a single egg hatched. 



The following list exhibits the results of various 

 crosses : 



CROSSES. EGGS. 



Gold and common pheasant Fertile. 



Silver and domestic fowl Fertile. 



Common pheasant and domestic fowl Fertile. 



Amherst and Gold Fertile. 



Reeves' and common Fertile. 



Elliot and common Unfertile. 



Scemmerring and common Unfertile. 



Versicolor and Gold Unfertile. 



The following extract from a letter of Mr. W. 

 Jamrach may give some idea of the difficulty experi- 

 enced in bringing to this country the several varieties 

 we now possess. I think that all bird-lovers are under 

 great obligations to Mr. Jamrach. The manner in 

 which, year after year, he has persevered, and that, 



