Miscellaneous. 



73 



ON HYBRID PHEASANTS. 



Farnham, July ] Ith. 



Dear Sir, — I have lately mounted a brace of hybrid Pheasants, 

 and have been requested to forward a memorandum to you ; if it is 

 any way interesting, you are welcome to make use of it. I believe 

 there is not an instance mentioned as having occurred in a wild state, 

 at least I have been so informed. 



The keeper of Henry Halsey, Esq., of Henley Park, two years 

 ago hatched a hen Golden Pheasant with a brood of common Phea- 

 sants, and allowed her to take to the woods with the others ; the re- 

 sult has been two beautiful hybrids, with the characters of the two 

 species so beautifully combined, that the most casual observer would 

 not fail to perceive it at first sight : they have not the bright mark- 

 ings of the common Pheasant, nor the gorgeous colours of the Golden 

 Pheasant ; but they present the more sombre tints of the two. 



They were shot by Henry Halsey, Esq. at the latter end of Ja- 

 nuary, and are now in his possession. 



Yours respectfully, 



James Lowcock. 



ON A SPECIMEN OF THE SHEARWATER PETREL^ KITE, &C. 



Chipping Norton, Oxon, July 9th, 1840. 



Sir, — A fine specimen of the Roller (Coracias Garrula) has lately 

 come under my notice, which was shot in the end of June, 1839, by 

 the gamekeeper, on the Guiting estate, Gloucestershire ; and in 

 September last a specimen of the Shearwater Petrel (Puffinus Anglo- 

 rum) was taken within this parish. The bird rose from the ground, 

 but being unable to fly far, was soon captured and brought to me 

 alive ; I endeavoured to feed it, but after nearly two days, during 

 which it appeared to have taken no food, I killed and stuffed it. The 

 bird made good use of its bill and wings in self defence, making at 

 the same time a loud breathing or hissing noise. 



The Kite (Milvus regalis) is become a rare bird. I have recently 

 obtained a specimen shot on December 29, 1838, about eight miles 

 from hence, in the vicinity of Stow. The bird had frequented the 

 neighbourhood several days, and shots were fired at it, but to no 

 purpose, till at last it was seen by a boy to fly into a plantation at 

 the bottom of Stow Hill ; he hastened up to the town and informed 

 the parties who had previously been in pursuit, and on their arrival 

 at the place it was shot whilst perched at roost. 



The third volume of Mr. Macgillivray's ' History of British Birds' 

 has just reached me; it is a most excellent work, and I would re- 

 commend every ornithological student to procure a copy. There are 

 other prettily and beautifully illustrated works, but this, in my opi- 

 nion, for the accuracy and minuteness of its detailed descriptions, is 

 scarcely to be excelled ; the " Lessons," too, of this practical orni- 

 thologist, together with the author's account of his rambles " o'er 

 moor and mountain," in company and alone, with other valuable 



