130 TELEGONY AND REVERSION. 



hybrids between zebra mares and various breeds of horses 

 and to a considerable extent with zebra-ass hybrids. 



If the result of crossiug a blue pouter with four or five 

 different recognised varieties of pigeons invariably resulted 

 in the production of young resembling the blue rock, we 

 should unhesitatingly account for this by the reversion 

 hypothesis. If, on the other hand, the crossing led to new 

 and quite distinct types that bred true, we should in time 

 look upon these cross-bred forms as new varieties. In the 

 same way, if the result of crossing zebras with four or five 

 recognised species or varieties of the Equid^ or horse 

 family leads to the production of hybrids all marked on 

 the same plan, we must, I think, admit that the resem- 

 blance is due in each case to reversion towards a remote — 

 it may be a common — ancestor. 



But if it is difficult to imagine how by discontinuous 

 variation Romulus (with his numei'ous complete and perfect 

 stripes on the face, neck, and body, and rudiments of 

 stripes over the hind quarters) could be derived from a 

 Burchell's zebra or an unstriped black mare, it will be 

 found still more difficult to understand some of the mark- 

 ings in this year's hybrids. The new hybrids all differ 

 from each other and from Romulus. Yet in no respect 

 can they be said to present characters new to the Equidte ; 

 there is no evidence in any instance of new departures or 

 of progressive development. The oldest (Remus), having a 

 three parts bred bay Irish mare for his dam, though much 

 lighter than the yearling, is marked in exactly the same 

 way, but he possesses callosities (chestnuts) on the hind 

 as well as the fore-legs, and his mane is as short and up- 

 right as in his zebra sire. About the next oldest (Heckla) 

 there is nothing remarkable save that the body colour is 

 already very dark. The dam is a skewbald (yellow and 

 white) Iceland pony with white mane and tail. I expected 

 her hybrid foal to be almost as light as a zebra, but instead 

 the stripes are indistinct and the spaces between them 

 mostly of a dark brown colour, while the mane and tail are 

 nearly black. The hybrid of a small black Shetland pony 



