THE CULTIVATOR. 
335 
1848. 
PHEASMT BltK EB S OF FOWLS. 
We are aware that 'some are Inclined to doubt whe¬ 
ther any of our domestic fowls possess the blood of the 
true pheasant. It is assumed, as the .ground for this 
doubt, that-animals produced by an union of different 
species, must be barren. It is true that many animals 
thus produced have not the power of procreation; but 
we think the conclusion that sterility is the invariable 
result of a mixture -of-species,, is at variance with facts. 
We know that conflicting opinions have been expressed 
on this subject, and we shall not at this time attempt 
an elaborate investigation of it$ but will only refer to 
some testimony and mention some-facts having a direct 
bearing on the -question -of the union -of the blood of 
the pheasant with the domestic fowl. 
Mowbray, and most of the older writers, though 
they admit the practicability of crossing the two spe¬ 
cies alluded to, contend that the progeny would be as 
unproductive as that produced by the horse and ass, or 
the Canadian and common goose. We have formerly 
held this opinion ourselves, but have been forced to re¬ 
linquish it on further evidence and observation. 
Another idea entertained in relation to this matter is 
that hybrids between different species are incapable of 
breeding among themselves, but may produce a fertile 
offspring when coupled with either of the parent stocks. 
This theory is held by the writer of a series of very in¬ 
teresting articles on poultry, with the signature, “D, S. 
E.,” in the English Agricultural Gazette. He says, 1 ‘A 
cock pheasant with a domestic hen will produce hybrids ; 
(or mules) which cannot generate among themselvesj 
but any one of these crossed with one of a different fa¬ 
mily of pure breed, will often produce a new sort, from 
which may spring a new improved variety.” 
We admit it to be a general characteristic of hybrids 
that they are inclined te sterility, and we think this ten¬ 
dency is more readily overcome when they are bred in 
the way above indicated.; at the same time we do not 
see that it is by any means impossible that hybrids 
should sometimes breed among themselves. If we have 
been correctly informed, such has in several instances 
been the case with the offspring of the pheasant and 
some varieties of the domestic fowl. According to the 
best information to be obtained, the origin of the phea¬ 
sant or golden top-knot fowl., was a cross of the phea¬ 
sant and the Hamburgh or spangled top-knot. We 
have heard of several cases where the stock has been 
continued among the hybrid progeny; and more than 
one person has declared that the same has been done 
with a cross of the pheasant and game fowl. 
A writer in the paper before mentioned, noticing the 
remarks of D. S. E., (from which we have quoted,) 
says —“ pheasants from the woods often breed with 
common poultry, and produce a beautiful race, which 
carried forward with the pheasant blood, become small¬ 
er indeed, but elegant and graceful. I have just now, 
a most beautiful creature of this breed. She is the 
daughter of a cock pheasant and a hen, the produce of 
a pheasant and a game hen, consequently has three- 
fourths of the pheasant blood, and one-fourth of game 
hen. She is spangled all over with bright gold, brown 
and black feathers; while down her back a few white 
drops like snow flakes, give her, to my eye, an appear¬ 
ance of high blood, like a whi#3 1 ticked ’ greyhound; 
her shape is round, plump and elegant, her motions es¬ 
pecially graceful.” He further describes the cross-bred 
stock and says -— u The cocks are often like a stout red 
game bird, many with black and gold semi-circular 
spangles over the breast. One thing ought particular¬ 
ly to be remarked; the comb universally, I think, ini 
these mules (or hybrids,) is, in the hen short; flat and 
low.” The hens of the stock that are three-fourths 
pheasants are described as being 11 very like a hen 
pheasant; the tails, however, always erect;” and in 
some of the haif-breds, the tails of the cocks, instead 
of being at all horizontal, were u carried quite back 
like a squirrel’s,'so that the head and tail meet at times. 
The same writer further observes that he is by no 
means convinced of the impossibility of carrying for¬ 
ward the breed by the direct cross. From the rarity 
of the attempts, and from the birds being usually rear¬ 
ed in pens, robust fowls, and those totally unconnected 
in blood, (absolutely requisite) are seldom paired. The 
only plan to give the breed a fair trial, would be to take 
a strong, robust cock and hen, the mothers of which 
should foe hardy, well acclimated hens, of quite distinct 
races—say the Malay, the Dorking, the Spanish, the 
Polish (spangled) or the game breed, and then cross 
them under favorable circumstances.” He observes, 
what has been remarked by others, that all the crosses 
i of the pheasant lay well. 
The above description of pheasant fowls, corresponds, 
generally, with the appearance of those bred by Mr. 
T. C. Abrahams, of West Troy, of which we have 
spoken on a former occasion. He says that he has 
bred them of various degrees of pheasant blood, from 
one-fourth to half, and three-fourths. In some of the 
three-fourths pheasant hens that he has shown us, the 
resemblance to the full blood pheasant hen was quite 
striking. Some of them were entirely destitute of comb 
and gills, and the head had the round form, the eye the 
size, fullness and brilliancy characteristic of the phea¬ 
sant. They had, also, much of the pheasant form and 
motion, and in some instances there was a similarity 
of plumage. In this last particular, however, they 
did not so generally exhibit the traits of the pheasant 
as might have been expected. Some of the cocks also 
presented strong marks of the pheasant; though, as 
remarked in regard to the hens, less in color and ar¬ 
rangement of the plumage than in their other charac¬ 
ters. They had the broad full breast, almost naked 
head, with but little comb or gills, clear eye and quick 
motion, with a restless habit, and a disposition to take 
wing on the least excitement; and when engaged in 
combat, were disposed to rise above their antagonist 
and strike down upon him. 
The infusion of pheasant blood tends to improve the 
texture and flavor of the flesh of the domestic fowl— 
especially the coarser varieties of the latter. The au¬ 
thor of “ Farming for Ladies ” observes in regard to 
these cross-bred fowls —“ Their flesh has so much of 
the game flavor, coupled with the juice of the fowl, as 
to be greatly admired by connoisseurs in good eating.” 
We presume that crosses of the pheasant might be 
readily obtained with any variety of domestic hens, by 
rearing the male pheasants with the females of the for¬ 
mer— keeping them together from the time they are 
hatched. 
Show of animals by the New York State Agri-’ 
cultural Society, and by the Highland Society 
of Scotland. —The number of cattle at the late show 
at Buffalo, was 360—-of horses 150—sheep 597— 
swine 50—poultry 250. At the late show of the High¬ 
land Society at Edinburgh, the number of cattle was 
352—horses 141—sheep 764—swine 58—-poultry 130. 
There were 92 exhibitors of implements. 
