208 Animal Life 
Although this particular hybrid would appear to be sterile, the Duck family has 
afforded several undoubted cases of fertile hybrids. That between the Pintail (Dafila 
acuta) and the domestic duck, the descendant of the Mallard, may be especially cited. 
In one instance ducklings were obtaimed from a pair of these hybrids, and more than 
once the hybrid has bred again with the pure pintail, the last instance bemg one 
recorded by Mr. J. F. B. Sharpe in the “ Feathered World” for July last. In this case 
the hybrid duck laid eight eggs, all of which were fertile, and hatched seven ducklings, 
one egg having been cracked. She proved a particularly careful and intelligent mother, 
thus recalling the good repute of the mule canary as a nurse. 
The fact that the Pintail and Mallard can produce a fertile cross shows that there 1s 
some other cause besides mutual sterility which keeps species distinct in the wild state, 
for, as I said above, the pintail-mallard hybrid is one of the best-known wild-bred 
hybrids, and yet the two species remain distinct on the whole. 
Double hybrid ducks have occurred, as well as pheasants. M. G. Rogeron, of 
Angers, once bred a most remarkable one from a hybrid between Mallard and Gadwall 
(Chaulelasmus streperus) mated to a Pochard (Nyroca ferina), and more recently Mr. J. L. 
Bonhote has succeeded in raising ducks in which the blood of the pintail, mallard, and 
Indian spot-billed duck (Anas pecilorhyncha) was combined. 
Turning now to some other groups, we find a fertile hybrid among the Parrakeets 
in the so-called Red-Mantled Parrakeet (Platycercus erythropeplus), which has produced 
young in confinement, and was shown, in the August number of the “ Avicultural 
Magazine,” to be merely a hybrid between the Rosella (Platycercus eximius) and 
Pennant’s Parrakeet (Platycercus elegans). These two parrakeets are very distinct, 
Pennant’s bemg a bigger bird than the rosella, and coloured red, purple-blue and 
black, with a distinct immature plumage of uniform olive-green, while the rosella’s 
colour is very largely yellow in addition to the other hues, and it assumes almost 
perfect adult plumage from the nest. 
Considering what free breeders are the various species of doves and pigeons, 11 
might have been expected that much light would have been shed on this subject by 
that group; but this appears not to be the case. Wild hybrids among these birds are 
almost unknown, and even in domestication very remote crosses seem not to have 
occurred. The two domestic species, however, the common pigeon and the collared 
turtle-dove (Turtur risorius) not unfrequently produce hybrids; but these appear to be 
quite sterile, although ready enough to mate. Out of three of these I have seen, two 
exactly resembled common mongrel pigeons in colour, though showing in their shape 
their relationship to the dove. The third, however, was of a creamy-dun shade. 
The different species of turtle-doves, though distinct enough in themselves, might 
reasonably be expected to produce fertile hybrids, and accordingly we find Miss R. 
Alderson, who has paid particular attention to doves, stating in the ‘“ Avicultural 
Magazine” for last January that a specimen bred by her between the domestic Turtur 
risorius and our native wild turtle-dove (7. auritus) bred (after she had parted with 
it) with a hybrid raised from the domestic dove and the necklaced turtle-dove of 
eastern Asia (Z'. tigrinits). 
Lastly, it has been recently proved by Mr. P. St. M. Podmore that the female wood- 
pigeon will produce a fertile hybrid with the domestic pigeon, the hybrid cock producing 
young with the domestic hen, although the cock woodpigeon will not do so. This 
singular discrepancy shows how difficult it is to say positively whether any hybrid is 
or is not fertile, and indicates the importance cf extended experiments in this most 
promising field. It is unnecessary to add more on this subject here, as I understand 
that a note from Mr. Podmore himself, and some excellent photographs which he has 
placed at the Editor’s disposal, will form the second part of this article. 
