Szvivi-Cccsc Hybrids. 
277 
Swan-Geese Hybrids. 
Rcprinicd from "Couiitrv Life." witli apologies to the Editor. — 
Ed., B.N. 
" Sir, — With reference to the letter of " G. I .C." in a recent 
'■ number of Country Life, the instance of a black swan — Canada goose 
" hybrid — is certainly unique. The nearest approach to it that I can 
" recollect is of a hybrid between a male mute swan and a female domestic 
" goose which was bred by a lady in Norfolk some eight years ago. I 
■' regret to say I forget her name, although she very kindly furnished me 
" with full details. In this instance the swan was on a pond with two geese 
" whose eggs were collected for cooking. One goose laid away, and it 
" was found that one of her eggs was fertile. If I remember rightly, the 
" nest was left undisturbed, and the hybrid resulted, but although dozens 
" of eggs were subsequently placed in an incubator, nothing more 
" resulted; indeed I think all were sterile. The results in both instances 
" point to the conclusion that the black swan is a nearer relative of the 
" geese than the mute swan. The hybrid was doubtless brought back to 
" the home waters when flying over, probably by accident, so far as a 
" sense of direction went by the call of the parents. — Ros.slyn Mannering." 
<>^^ 
Editorial. 
Retrospfxt : While perhaps profitable, only under 
specially favourable circumstances is such pleasant. 
Four years of war have made anything but favourable 
circumstances for us, and perhaps, now when peace is practically 
assured, is a good time to pass in brief review results and conse- 
quences thereof. Adverse circumstances may be briefly 
simimed up as follow : 
The Declaration of War found us with a deficit. 
The results of the war have been a large number of unpaid 
subscriptions, numerous dormant members, and costs of 
producing the Club Journal Bird Notes very heavily 
increased. 
