164 



INTRODUCTION. 



An instance of this kind oecured some years since in Mr. Atkins's mena- 

 gerie ; and the preceding representation (fig. 173) of the young ani- 

 mals was taken from the life. The common Mule is the* produce of the 

 union of the Horse and Ass ; the Siskin, the Linnet, and. the Goldfinch 

 breed with the Canary-bird. Different species of Ducks, in confinement, 

 will breed together ; the same may be said of the Fowl and the Pheasant, 

 and the Pheasant and Grey-hen (Tetrao tetrix) (see Proceedings Zool. 

 Soc. 1834, p. 52) ; and a hybrid has occurred between the Peacock and the 

 common Fowl. In all well-authenticated instances, however (unless, per- 

 haps, by man's express stratagem on the occasion), it is between animals of 

 the same natural genus that the union has taken place ; certainly, it is only in 

 such instances that any offspring has resulted ; indeed, it would seem, as 

 might be anticipated, that the nearer the alliance of species, the more readily 

 are they disposed to mutual intercourse ; as in the case of the Fowl and 

 Pheasant. But, with respect to the offspring, the question suggests itself, 

 whether such hybrids are, or are not, fertile inter se. In some cases we 

 think they are so ; in many cases, certainly, the hybrid is capable of pro- 

 creating with one of the two pure species, from the union of which it was 

 produced.* Instances are known of the mule having bred with the mare ; 

 and also of the female mule conceiving ; an occurrence said to be most frequent 

 in warm countries ; hybrid birds will also breed with an individual of the 

 parent race.-f- In these cases, there is a very near bond of affinity between the 

 individuals ; for hybrids between two given species are, really, farther apart 

 than a hybrid and an individual of one of the pure species from which the 

 former sprung. But whefe two species are themselves allied, in the nearest 

 possible degree (for we consider the distance between species to be graduated), 



* In the Proceedings Zool. Soc. 1831, p. 66, occurs the following : "A letter, addressed by Richard 

 Thursfield, Esq., to Dr. Roots, was read, in illustration of the history of a hybrid between the Hare 

 and the Rabbit, which was lately living at the society's farm. A gentleman, who was rearing a pair 

 of tame Rabbits, placed with them, when they were about two months old, a young buck Hare, appa- 

 rently about the same age, which became, in a short time, as domesticated as its companions. When 

 the doe Rabbit was old enough, she had, by the buck Rabbit and the Hare, a progeny, consisting of three 

 young ones, which resembled, in all respects, the mother and buck Rabbit, and of three mules. Two of these 

 mules shortly died; the third, a female, was reared with Rabbits of her own age, and, when six months 

 old, produced one young one: she was afterwards bred, from eight times, by tame Rabbits, and by a wild 

 one ; but no opportunity occurred of placing a buck Hare in confinement with her. Her progeny, 

 by a tame white Rabbit, with which she bred twice, consisted of two young ones, which were perfectly 

 grey, and of two which were spotted. The latter are still alive, and breed regularly, producing from 

 five to eight at a time. The average weight of the progeny of the mule female was about five pounds ; 

 one, however, weighed six pounds and a half. She died shortly after coming into the Society's posses- 

 sion. Mr. Owen having examined the body of this hybrid animal, after death, reported that its size and 

 colour were those of the Hare ; but its hinder legs were shorter than in that species, and agreed rather 

 with those of the Rabbit. The length of its small intestines corresponded with that of the Hare ; its 

 caecum was seven inches shorter, while its large intestines measured one foot more than those of the 

 Hare." 



t See an interesting account of the breeding of hybrids (between the Pheasant and Fowl), with a 

 Pheasant Cock, in Proceedings Zool. Soc. L., 1836, p. 84. Hybrids between the Pintail and common 

 Duck have bred with the male Pintail, from which they sprung, [and produced young, of which 

 a specimen was exhibited in December, 1831, before the Scientific Meeting of Zool. Soc. L. See Pro- 

 ceedings Z. S. L., 1831, p. 158. 



