The Descent of Man

had been recorded of the occurrence in Great
Britain of hybrids between the black grouse
and pheasant (18. 'Zoologist,' 1853-1854, p.
3946.); but most of these cases may perhaps be
accounted for by solitary birds not finding one
of their own species to pair with. With other
birds, as Mr. Jenner Weir has reason to believe,
hybrids are sometimes the result of the casual
intercourse of birds building in close proximity.
But these 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 (19. Waterton, 'Essays on Nat. Hist.'
2nd series, pp. 42 and 117. For the following
statements see on the wigeon, 'Loudon's Mag.
of Nat. Hist.' vol. ix. p. 616; L. Lloyd, 'Scandinavian
Adventures,' vol. i. 1854, p. 452. Dixon,
'Ornamental and Domestic Poultry,' p. 137;
Hewitt, in 'Journal of Horticulture,' Jan. 13,
1863, p. 40; Bechstein, 'Stubenvogel,' 1840, s.