1884.] MR. A. D. BARTLETT ON HYBRID BOVINE ANIMALS. 401 



have been produced by a mixture of species. And in support of 

 this opinion I will call your attention to some of the species of the 

 Equine and Asinine group of animals. And I shall endeavour to 

 show some very remarkable points to be found in confirmation of 

 my ideas upon this subject. 



During my visit to Norway I was much interested in noticing 

 the multitudes of ponies in that country. By far the greater por- 

 tion of them were dun-coloured, varying from dark dun to a pale 

 cream-colour ; but the most striking peculiarity was the striped or 

 zebra-marked legs, together with one or two, and sometimes three, 

 shoulder-strijjes ; most of them had also the dark medial line 

 running from the mane down the back, ending in the tail. 



These characters appear frequently among individuals of the 

 common Domestic Ass, and also among Mules, the produce of the 

 Horse and Ass. 



The former Earl of Derby published in the 'Knowsley Menagerie ' 

 plates of several hybrid animals belonging to this family, the most 

 remarkable one being of a double Mule that was born in the Gardens 

 of this Society. This Mule had in its composition the Zebra, com- 

 mon Ass, and Horse. You will observe in the illustration now before 

 you — and I can say from my own knowledge it is a most accurate 

 representation of this animal — that the long hair commences from the 

 base of the tail, like that of the Horse, whereas all the Zebras and 

 Asses have the long hair at the extremity of their tails only. 



My object in bringing forward this part of the subject is in the 

 hope tliat it may induce experiments to be made that will lead to 

 some important and useful discoveries. Having such positive proof 

 of the fertility of some hybrids, I feel anxious that the old super- 

 stition should be entirely removed. The belief, so general, that 

 all hybrids or mules are barren and useless for breeding-purposes is 

 simply a stupid and ignorant prejudice, and has been the means, in 

 my opinion, of preventing many valuable discoveries. 



The late j\Ir. Darwin in his ' Origin of Species ' calls particular 

 attention to the Zebra-like markings observable in a number of 

 animals of the Equine and Asinine family, and it appears to me to 

 be highly probable that the Horse was originally produced by the 

 mixture of species, seeing the unlimited variation in size, colour, 

 form, and marking, and bearing iu mind that no wild animal has 

 been discovered that fairly represents the Horse. 



The zebra-markings, so common among the very ancient stock of 

 ponies in Norway, seem to indicate their remote origui to be connected 

 with a striped animal, the traces of which are still visible. 



I had intended to extend these remarks, and to have added a list of 

 the hybrids that are known to be fertile, but finding that there are 

 some valuable experiments now being carried out by Mr. Day and 

 others, in the hope of producing a 'non-migratory Salmon, by the 

 mixture of other species of the Salmonidse, I have deferred doing so 

 in order to make the list more complete. 



