Hybrids. 205 



last two years, having succeeded in rearing about sixty in the 

 two seasons ; but I find they are much healthier turned out 

 than when penned up. The soil here is dry and sandy, which 

 seems to suit them very well. Two years ago I penned up 

 fifty A ery fine young birds, about half -grown ; but they swelled 

 very much about the head, and went completely blind, and 

 about twenty of them died, but those that we have turned 

 out seem to be in very good health and condition. As regards 

 hybridizing, I know they will do so, as three years ago a hen 

 Reeves escaped from the pens, bred with a common pheasant, 

 and brought up fi^'e very fine young birds, much larger than 

 the common pheasant, and of beautiful plumage." 



Many specimens of hybrid or cross-bred Eeeves have been 

 reared iu confinement. Among them may be mentioned the 

 offspring of a male Reeves with a Bohemian hen ; it partook, 

 as may be noticed, of the characters of both species, the tail 

 being of intermediate length, the white cowl, cheek patch, 

 and neck ring of the Eeeves being retained, but the splendid 

 golden yellow of the body being almost entirely wanting. 

 Hybrids between a Reeves hen and a ScEmmerring cock have 

 been bred by Mr. -Jamrach. The male birds appeared precisely 

 intermediate between the two parents, having the strongly 

 barred tail of the ScBmmerring and the perfectly marked head 

 of the Reeves pheasant. They were exceedingly beautiful. 



Hybrids have also been produced between a male Reeves's 

 pheasant and female Cheer (P-. wallicliii), but they have 

 httle beyond their size to recommend them. In appearance 

 they look like dirty faded Reeves, with comparatively short 

 tails. They are of large size, like the parent species, and 

 would in all probabihty partake of those terrestrial habits of 

 the Cheer which preclude its being advantageously introduced 

 as a game bird, as it often refuses to rise, even when hunted 

 or pursued with dogs. 



A singular hybrid was produced and described by Mr. R. 

 Sanders, of Heavitree, who wrote : " I have three most beautiful 

 male birds, bred between the Reeves and Gold. The size is 



