134 ROSY-FACED LOVE-BIRD. 



any aviarist whose speciality was "nrules", would have a wide field 

 here in which to make experiments. 



For our part we have no liking for hybrids, which are seldom much 

 to look at, and are useless to those whose inclination prompts them 

 to watch the reproduction in this cold and changeable climate of the 

 denizens of tropical and sub-tropical regions, for they are invariably 

 barren, and incapable of perpetuating their kind. In cases where the 

 offspring of a "cross" proves itself to be fruitful, we are of opinion 

 that the parents are varieties of the one and not two distinct species: 

 for example, all the different varieties of the Domestic Pigeon will 

 breed together, and produce a fruitful offspring, mongrel if the reader 

 wishes, but certainly capable of generation: and the same thing happens 

 with the common fowl; but mate the latter with a Turkey, or a Pheasant, 

 and the progeny is absolutely barren. Whether the offspring of the 

 cross union of the different species of Agapornis would be mongrels, 

 or hybrids, we are not yet in a position to determine: but we are 

 trying some experiments in this direction, which we expect will decide 

 the question before long. 



