Hybridity in Animals. 205 
and description of a wild hybrid, between the pheasant and do- 
mestic fowl; and a bird of the same kind was preserved in the 
Leverian museum at Oxford. A similar example is again record- 
ed by Mr. Eyton, in his History of the rarer British Birds, in 
which five individuals were produced.* 
Further, the common ring-pheasant of England, is now as- 
certained to be a hybrid between the Phasianus colchicus and P. 
torquatus of China. This cross is very prolific, and is said to be 
will also unite. It appears, in fact, very possible to produce mon- 
grels from the major part of those Gallinze which are suscepti 
of cultivation.” 
Hybrids of the Fringillide.—The Finch family furnishes an- 
other example of an extensive amalgamation of species, and a re- 
markable series of prolific hybrids. Thus, according to Bech- 
stein, the Redpole (Fringilla linaria) will breed with the gold- 
inch, linnet and canary; while the cross between the latter 
the goldfinch is capable of reproduction. 
The Citril finch (F. citrinella) also, readily pairs with the ea- 
nary, and gives rise to a fertile offspring ; and, indeed, so remark- 
able is the fecundity of these hybrids, and the ease with which 
they reproduce with the goldfinch, bullfinch and greenfinch, that 
M. Veilliot, in order to account for a phenomenon that conflict- 
ed with the prevalent opinion of the sterility of all hybrids, as- 
Sumed that the F’. citrinella and F'. canaria were not distinct 
Species, but only two races that had sprung from the same stock ; 
that one having colonized in Europe and the other in the Ca- 
nary islands, their different characteristics were owing to a mere 
ference of locality.$ 2 
On the other hand, those persons, — for pastime, have given 
the o 
* Proceedings of the Zoolog. Society of London, 1835. 
t Rennie, in Montagu’s Ornithological Dict., p. 424. ‘ 
t Griffith's Cuvier, viii, pp. 173, 175, 176.—Prichard. Researches, &c., i, p. 140. 
§ Griffith's Cuvier, vii, p. 271. 
