DOMINANCE IN HABITS 333 



in which the hybrid follows the Javan, the Red 

 Jungle-Fowl assuming after breeding a neck-wear 

 of short black feathers instead of long red hackles, 

 though this change can seldom be traced in the tame 

 Fowl, which generally " skips " this undress phase. 



Among the Ducks, where habit may vary so 

 much, we have a chance of comparing the habits 

 of hybrids with that of the parents ; the diving- 

 habit would appear to be recessive, as hybrids bred 

 by M. Rogeron between a Pochard drake and a 

 Gadwall-Mallard hybrid duck were not only non- 

 divers, but more terrestrial than ordinary Ducks, 

 though heavily built ; and of several hybrids between 

 surface-feeders and divers I have myself seen I 

 never saw one dive, though it must be remembered 

 that some of the true diving- ducks, the Red- 

 crested Pochard for instance, seldom dive in captivity 

 even on large ponds ; while on small ponds much 

 more specialized diving-birds show a tendency to 

 become abnormal and avoid diving and often 

 even swimming ; thus, the King Penguin last at 

 the Zoo .would not enter water. 



The perching habit, in a duck bred between a 

 percher and a non-percher, appears to be dominant ; 

 at any rate, several hybrids between common and 

 Muscovy Ducks I had in Calcutta took to perching, 

 though at first awkwardly, sitting along the bough 

 lengthways ; they improved later, however, and 

 assumed the normal transverse position, and roosted 

 in the tree, showing a stronger proclivity for perch- 

 ing than the pure Muscovy, though this is a tree- 



