Sf bR. E. CRISt ON THE ANATOMY OF [Feb. 26^ 



88. QuERQUEDULA DiscoRS (Linn.) : Gosse, p.401. 



Two ex. I can scarcely believe tbat Gosse's Cyanopterus inorna- 

 tus is really different from this species ; but his specimens should be 

 examined. 



89. Spatula clypeata (Linn.) : Gosse, p. 408. 

 One ex., a female obtained in November. 



90. PoDiLYMBUS PODiCEPs (Linn.): Baird, B. Am. p. 898; 

 Gosse, p. 438. 



Three ex., to each of which is attached a paper containing a mass 

 of feathers " taken out of the pyloric cavity." 



91. PoDiCEPS DOMiNicus (Linn.) : Gosse, p. 400. 

 One ex. 



92. Sterna regia, Gambel : Baird, B. N. Am. p. 858.— TAa- 

 lasseus cay anus, Gosse, p. 431. 



One ex., obtained in March, with wing-feathers in moult. 



5. On some Points relating to the Habits and Anatomy 

 OF THE Oceanic and of the Freshwater Ducks, and 



ALSO OF THE HaRE (LePUS TIMIDUS) AND OF THE RaBSIT 

 (L. CUNICULUS), IN RELATION TO THE QUESTION OF HY- 

 BRIDISM. By Edwards Crisp, M.D., F.Z.S., etc. 



This communication was suggested by the exhibition at our last 

 meeting, by Mr. Bartlett, of four hybrid ducks between the Summer 

 Duck {A. sponsa) of North America, the Pochard {Fuligula ferina), 

 and the Ferruginous Duck {Ftdigula nyroca). Mr. Bartlett thought 

 that the progeny of these hybrids would be prolific. In the discussion 

 which followed concerning these birds, I expressed my belief that 

 the hybrid between the hare and the rabbit was a much more re- 

 markable occurrence, taking the habits and the anatomy of the ani- 

 mals into account, than that of a cross between an oceanic and a 

 freshwater duck. From this opinion several of the members dis- 

 sented. 



It will now be my object to make a fair investigation of this 

 matter; and as the question of hybridism is one becoming daily of 

 greater importance, 1 tbmk tbat our time will not be unprofitably 

 occupied, more especially as the comparisons I am about to institute 

 will, I think, furnish some matters of j)hysiological interest. 



And first, of the Ducks ; and 1 speak chiefly of British ducks. In 

 this family of birds there is, for the most part, a great general resem- 

 blance, whether we look to their habits or to their anatomy. They 

 have been divided into the Oceanic and Freshwater ducks; but it must 

 be observed that they both frequent the sea, and also the freshwater 

 rivers, although the first-named ducks are more limited to the ocean. 



