68 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Reeves's pheasant x common pheasant (no hen bird of the 

 first-named species was as yet imported) ; common x golden 

 pheasant, guinea-fowl x pheasant, and duck x sheldrake ; 

 but these were acquired by presentation. 



Instructions were given by the Council to the Superintendent 

 that " arrangements should be made to train the dragon pigeons 

 to fly long distances." In turn the Superintendent recommended 

 that the two half-bred zebras, the offspring of a common ass and 

 a mountain and a Burchell zebra respectively, " should be trained 

 to draw the small cart belonging to the Garden." The use of 

 them, he suggested, would be appropriate to the character of the 

 Society, "besides which, they would attract attention," These 

 animals were bred at Windsor, and presented to the Society by 

 William IV. They were afterwards trained to draw a light cart, 

 used to bring vegetables from Covent Garden market. In 1838 

 Youatt wrote to the Council with respect to the risk incurred in 

 using entire animals for draught, adding that it was dangerous 

 " both to man and beast to go into their paddock." One sen- 

 tence in his letter is of interest, as showing that, in his opinion, 

 equine hybrids might be used for stud purposes : " If you intend 

 to keep the younger hybrid for the purposes of breeding, or to 

 experiment with him in any way, well and good." If, however, 

 the animal was to be used for draught, Youatt advised that 

 it should be treated in the ordinary way ; failing this, " he will 

 be ten times more vicious than either of the quaggas." * 



Records with respect to breeding were not then kept as care- 

 fully as they are now, when every instance, small or great, is 

 entered on the " Occurrences," and the aggregate summarised in 

 the Annual Report. Towards the close of 1837 or early in 1838 

 a wish was expressed by someone at a monthly meeting that 

 details should be furnished of the results attending the Society's 

 efforts in the breeding of animals. In the Report presented at 

 the Anniversary Meeting, April 30, 1838, the following record, 

 " selected from a more extended list," and showing the number 

 of young in each case, was printed : 



Mammals.— Dromedary (1), Burchell's zebra (1), nylghaie (9), Stanley 

 musk deer (2), Napu musk deer(l), busli kangaroo (2), greater kangaroo (7), 



* A stallion hybrid is always a terror. — Major Birkbeck, Bemount Department, 

 Johannesburg, in Proceedings, 1903, i. 2, 



