Fertile Bird Hybrids 
strong and useful, the three-quarter bred beasts 
are apparently of little value. 
FerTILE Birp Hysrips 
Coming to birds, we are confronted by a 
longer list of fertile hybrids. This is the natural 
outcome of the fact that a greater number of 
bird species have been kept in captivity. 
The oldest known fertile hybrid is that 
between the common and Chinese geese above 
cited, but many others have since been re- 
corded. Even among birds so seldom bred, 
comparatively, as the parrot family, a fertile 
hybrid has been produced, that between the Aus- 
tralian Rosella Parrakeet (Platycercus eximius) 
and Pennants Parrakeet (P. elegans). The 
hybrid was first described as a distinct species, 
the Red-mantled Parrakeet (P. evythropeplus). 
These two parrakeets, though nearly allied, are 
very distinct ; Pennant’s being coloured red, blue, 
and black, with a distinct young plumage of 
uniform dull green ; the rosella in addition to the 
above colours displays much yellow and some 
white and green. It is, moreover, considerably 
smaller and has no distinct youthful dress. 
The Amherst Pheasant (CArysolophus amher- 
stig) and the Gold Pheasant (C. Jzctus) have 
long been known as producing hybrids which 
are fertile either zzter se or with the parents. 
Here the species are still more distinct ; not only 
y2t 
