THE BLACK GllOUSE. 
41 
the following communication to the Natural History Society of Belfast 
in December 1836, and at the same time exhibited the specimen 
of which it treats. The article was afterwards published in the 
Magazine of Zoology and Botany, vol. i. (1837). 
“ Having lately heard that a hybrid bird, bred between the common 
pheasant and black grouse, had been shot in Wigtonshire, and was 
preserved for Sir Andrew Agnew, Bart., M.P., I proposed a few queries 
respecting it through the medium of our mutual friend. Captain 
Payrer, R.N. Sir Andrew, on receiving these, considered that an 
examination of the specimen would prove more satisfactory than a 
mere reply, and with the kindest consideration sent it from Lochnaw 
Castle for my inspection. He stated that the bird was shot in the 
autumn of 1835 in a wild state at Lochnaw, where it had previously 
been seen several times on the wing. Pheasants and black grouse are 
numerous in the surrounding plantations ; but this is the only hybrid 
that has been observed. 
‘‘ In four instances only am I aware of similar hybrids being recorded.* 
The first is mentioned in White’s History of Selborne as a curious bird, 
shot in a coppice at the Holt, and sent by Lord Stawell for his inspec- 
tion. Its parentage was not correctly assigned by Mr. White, nor 
even by several later authors who have endeavoured from his description 
to determine it. In a note, however, to p. 344 of a late edition of that 
work (8vo ed. 1833), the Hon. and Eev. William Herbert mentions 
having seen the specimen in the collection of the Earl of Egremont at 
Petworth, and speaks decisively to its true parentage. The second 
specimen was exhibited at a meeting of the Zoological Society of Lon- 
don, on the 24th of June 1834, by Joseph Sabine, Esq., who stated 
that it was bred in Cornwall, f The third, shot near Merrington in 
Shropshire, was announced to the same Society, on the 1 2th of May 
1835, by T. C. Eyton, Esq., by whom it was described in some 
detail.! In the preface to a subsequent publication History of 
the Barer Species of British Birds,’) Mr. Eyton informs us that the 
brood to which this bird belonged consisted of five individuals, 
all of which were killed, though two only are preserved. In 
the same work (p. 1 01), the fourth and last I know to be on 
* Otter birds of a similar kind, subsequently recorded, will be found noticed in 
Yarrell’s British Birds. Note of 1849. 
t Proc. Zool. Soc. 1834, p. 52. 
+ Ibid. 1835. p. 62. 
