352 P. C. Mackie—Visit to Professor Ghigi, Bologna


Professor Ghigi then showed us some Pheasants which he asked

us to sex and specify, and these turned out to be a Silver X Golden

cock, a Silver X Common cock, and a Silver X Golden hen which had

every appearance of being a cock—namely an intersexuatc. Professor

Ghigi has made a special study of the effects of crossing various species

of Pheasants, particularly Kaleege but also other gallinaceous birds,

and has made many most interesting discoveries. To give two

examples :—-


(1) Silver X Golden.—The male hybrids favour the Silver

except in regard to shape of the markings, and an entirely different

result is obtained by crossing Golden x Silver, but, reverting back,

the female hybrids are invariably intersexuate with almost male

plumage.


(2) If a Pheasant is crossed with a more distantly related species

or, as an extreme instance, a Common Fowd, it is highly improbable

that the female hybrid will develop at all, nearly all dying in the

slfell, so that all hybrids produced are therefore males.


Proceeding from the courtyard we were shown a most scientific

fish-breeding establishment and we were particularly interested in

Professor Ghigi’s experiments in breeding Salamanders and crossing

black (the usual form) and albinistic specimens.


At the top of the building there was a fine gallery of aviaries con¬

taining Pigeons and smaller foreign birds, Finches, Pastors, etc., whilst

leading into the courtyard before-mentioned were a group of semi¬

subterranean aviaries (one of which accommodated the birds running

loose in the courtyard), which were delightfully cool in the extreme heat

we were experiencing.


Professor Ghigi showed us through magnificent laboratories and

lecture rooms, and indeed the writer wished he w T ere able to take a

course of Zoology or Biology to avail himself of these appointments.

After visiting taxidermical laboratories, dissecting rooms, and a new

museum in course of construction on three large floors (the writer noted

that one of the first exhibits was an Argus displaying to his hen, which

caused the remark that it was evident where Professor Ghigi’s interests

lay), we were shown what must surely be the finest ornithological

library in Europe, and much difficulty was experienced in dragging



