THE POITLTHY BOOK. 
167 
well. It was fully twice the size of the pheasant. The pencillings of this bird 
showed at intervals a disposition to run into each other ; on the shoulders 
especially they mingled, until they actually formed a kind of general fretwork : I 
will particularly allude to the fact that not a single spangle was visible anywhere ; 
although, had any existed at all, they would have been very apparent, on account 
of the lightness of the ground-colour. All the markings were of a very deep 
black colour. From the five results just narrated (and I could easily allude to 
numerous other cases if I desired it), it will he seen that in no case was there to be 
found the ^ spangle’ or ^ moon’ so much dwelt on as the consequence of consan- 
guinity with the pheasant. Why such a fiction should he persisted in, I really 
cannot imagine ; except by attributing it to the misrepresentation employed to 
impose on the inexperienced or the credulous ; and my object in refuting this 
popular error is, if possible, to prevent it being again practised on the unwary. My 
own motive for attempting their production was entirely to investigate the production 
of the different markings and character of the birds. The markings were as 
variable as they could be, and the birds as pugnacious as it is possible to imagine ; 
and I never knew any instance where they did not destroy all the eggs to which 
they could gain access. As anticipated, they were always sterile, and unsociable. 
It should be borne in mind that the five instances specified vrere not cases wdiere 
only a single bird was produced from a hatch of eggs, for it generally happens that 
if a single egg proves fertilized, there are several others that are equally productive 
in the same nest; but I have purposely selected them as fitting illustrations. 
Oftentimes, however, very large numbers of eggs may be incubated before a solitary 
chicken is obtained. When once hatched, they are very easily reared, but manifest 
their peculiar and extreme pugnacity at a very early age, maintaining a constant war- 
fare, even when among themselves, — a feature that continues to their life’s end, 
whatever description of poultry may be appointed as their associates. This want 
of sociability renders them perpetual pests unless they enjoy exclusive possession 
of their habitation. Indeed, a gentleman who once accompanied me to inspect 
several of them that had been reared with great kindness and good usage, and still 
remained constantly under the eye of their owner, remarked — ‘ They seem as wild 
as hyenas.’ They are in truth always, if in health, roaming about in the most 
unsettled manner from morn until night closely approaches ; their cry is peculiar 
to themselves, and the frequency with which it is uttered is annoying, as it is 
plaintive, hoarse, and guttural. The greatly increased size and weight of these 
birds beyond that of their immediate progenitors is very striking to the eye at first 
sight, but is of no importance in a practical point of view, as any intermixture be- 
tween birds of distinct species, as pheasants and fowls, can never be extended 
beyond the first cross. At poultry exhibitions they invariably serve as a great 
attraction to visitors, and my opinion is, that such a position is the extreme limit 
of their utility.” 
It may perhaps be imagined by some of our readers, that we have allotted more 
space to the discussion of the characters of these hybrids than the subject deserves ; 
