114 
SEXUAL selection: bikds. 
Past IL, 
remarks do not apply to the many recorded instances of 
tamed or domestic birds, belonging to distinct species^ 
which have become absolutely fascinated with each 
other, although living with their own species. Thus 
Waterton^^ states that out of a flock of twenty-three 
Canada geese, a female paired wdth a solitary Bernicle- 
gander, although so different in appearance and size ; 
and they produced hybrid offspring. A male Wigeon 
(Mareca ;penelope), living Avith females of the same 
species, has been known to pair with a Pintail duck, 
Querq^wedula acuta. Lloyd describes the remarkable 
attachment between a shield-drake {Tadorna vulpanser) 
and a common duck. Many additional instances could 
be given; and the Eev. E. S. Dixon remarks that “Those 
who have kept many different species of geese to- 
“ gether, well know what unaccountable attachments; 
“ they are frequently forming, and that they are quite* 
“ as likely to pair and rear young Avith individuals of a 
“ race (species) apparently the most alien to themselves, 
“ as Avith their own stock.” 
The Eev. W.. D. Fox informs me that he possessed at 
the same time a pair of Chinese geese {Anser cygnoides), 
and a common gander with three geese. The two lots 
kept quite separate, until the Chinese gander seduced 
one of the common geese to live with him. Moreover, 
of the young birds hatched from the eggs of the common 
geese, only four were pure, the other eighteen proving- 
hybrids ; so that the Chinese gander seems to have 
had prepotent charms over the common gander. I will 
Waterton, ‘Essays on Nat. Hist/ 2nd series, p. 42, 117. For 
following statements, see on the wigeon, London’s ‘ Mag. of Nat. Hibt.’ 
vol. ix. p. 616; L. Lloyd, ‘ Scandinavian Adventures,’ vol. i. 1854, p. 452 ; 
Dixon, ‘ Ornamental and Domestic Poultry,’ p. 137 ; Hewitt, in ‘ Journal 
of Hort ‘culture,’ Jan. 13, 1863, p'. 40 : Bechstein, ‘ Stuhenvogel,’ 1840',. 
s. 230. 
