BurrER.—4Jntercrossing of Ocydromus earli and Domestic Fowl. 341 
Arr. XXXVI.—On the alleged intercrossing of Ocydromus earli, and the 
Domestic Fowl. By Warren L. Burer, C.M.G., Sc.D., President. 
[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 25th November, 1876.] 
In my history of the North Island Wood-hen,* I ventured, in opposition 
to the advice of one or two scientific friends in England, to put on record 
the following statement :— 
‘In spite, however, of the natural wildness of this bird, and the 
apparent impossibility of fully taming it, in localities contiguous to its 
native haunts, it is sometimes seen mingling with the domestic fowls ; 
and, however incredible such a fact may appear, there are several we'l- 
authenticated instances of its crossing with the barn-door hen and pro- 
ducing a veritable hybrid! I saw one of these, many years ago, at a 
settler's homestead, at Waikanae ; and, more recently, I carefully examined 
another in the possession of Dr. Hewson, at Otaki. I was informed that 
Dr. Hildebrand, of the Wairarapa, had a clutch of several from one hen ; 
and several other instances might be cited. The hybrid is covered with a 
peculiar hairy plumage of a yellowish-brown colour, and unites with a 
general fowl-like appearance a disproportionately long head, Rail-like legs, 
and a genuine Weka’s tail.” 
This statement was sharply criticized by Captain Hutton,} who ex- 
who expressed astonishment that I had not preserved Dr. Hewson's 
specimen of the hybrid, or ascertained what it ‘‘ developed into;" my 
answer to this being that the bird, although promised to me, was unfortu- 
nately shortly afterwards consigned to the pot, thus putting an end both to 
the specimen and its ** development." 1 
I have never since had an opportunity of personally verifying my former 
observations ; but Captain Mair, of Tauranga, who declares that such 
intercrossing i$ a common occurrence in that part of the island, has 
favoured me with the following notes :— 
* In the small isolated native villages in the Rotorua district, I have 
observed several instances of crossing between the Weka-rail and the Barn- 
door Fowl, and the natives tell me that they are by no means rare. 
** For some years a native chief at Wairoa has had a number of these 
hybrids amongst his fowls, of which he keeps a large number. In 1872-3-4, 
detachments of my Native Contingent were stationed at Paeroa and Niho- 
otekiore, and at both these places my fowls mixed with the Weka, and 
several small broods of hybrids were produced. I have never known this 
* « Birds of New Zealand," pp. 165-169. 
+ "Ibis," Jan., 1874. 
t “ Trans. N.Z. Institute," Vol. VL, p. 133. 
