Vol. xliii.] 116 



Corvus corone and C. comix, and between Carduelis caniccps 

 and C. carduelis, those between Monticola solitarius pandoo 

 and M. solitarius philippinensis, and between Coracias 

 indica and C. a^nis, all of whicli occur in numbers in the 

 comparatively small areas where the two respective forms 

 meet and apparently interbreed. This is the case with 

 jP. a. raggiana and P. a. novccguinea', for P. a. raggiana 

 inhabits the whole of the eastern half of New Guinea south 

 of the main range of mountains and P. a. novcegmnece the 

 the whole area of the western half south of the main range, 

 with the exception of the Berau or Arfak Peninsula ; while 

 it is only in the comparatively narrow area of the Fly River 

 district that these intermediate specimens occur. 



We have now to consider what these forms should be called. 

 Salvadori calls them simply " Hybrids," but to me this is 

 hardly a fitting term, as they are so numerous ; but they are 

 certainly not a " local race," as they vary indefinitely iiiter se. 

 I think, therefore, the best term would be " Racial Hybrid," 

 as suggested by Dr. Lowe, in opposition to " Hybrid," which 

 latter term I interpret as denoting a casual or individual cross 

 between two species or subspecies. 



[Editor's Note. — I was led to suggest the term " Racial 

 Hybrid" by a consideration of the obvious differences which 

 obtain between such sporadic hybrids as those occurring 

 where areas of distribution impinge or overlap — as, say, 

 in Ilelminthopliila clirysoptera and H. piims of North 

 America — and the kind of hybridism which apparently 

 occurs in such a genus as Phasianus or Gennceus. In the 

 former case names have been bestowed (e. g., H. lawrencii 

 and H. leucohroncJiialis) on the sporadic hybrids or mon- 

 grels which have from time to time ci-opped up in the 

 Tom-Tiddler's-ground occupied by normal members of 

 the two ovei'lapping species. 



In the case of such a genus as Phasianus, it seems 

 difficult to believe that some of the subspecies described 

 are anything else than hybrids which have established them- 

 selves on the grand scale in areas of occupation which form 



