First and Second Crosses. 



l{)7 



On the Elveden estate a hybrid Reeves is said to have 

 proved fertile, and Sir Digby Pigott on inquiry has received 

 the following letter from the head gamekeeper, W. Hill : — 



" I had some four or five Eeeves hybrids (hens) penned 

 with the common pheasant, P. colchicus, about three seasons 

 ago, and they were fertile and several yonng were reared. 



" I have also known of several second, and I maj' say third 

 ■crosses, but the curious fact is that whereas the first cross is 

 a magnificent bird of great weight and beauty, the second 

 cross is much smaller, and the third smaller still — not so large 

 as a medium common pheasant hen." 



Lord Eedesdale informs Sir D. Pigott that he has always 

 found the hybrid Eeeves infertile, so that the fertility of this 

 cross must still be regarded as very uncertain. 



^SS^^^em3i:KEZc 



