Trochilidae, 1861, p. 19. On the bower-birds, Gould, Handbook to the
Birds of Australia, 1865, vol. i. pp. 444-461. Ramsay, in the Ibis,
1867, p. 456.)
PREFERENCE FOR A PARTICULAR MALES BY THE FEMALES.
Having made these preliminary remarks on the discrimination and taste
of birds, I will give all the facts known to me which bear on the
preference shewn by the female for particular males. It is certain that
distinct species of birds occasionally pair in a state of nature and
produce hybrids. Many instances could be given: thus Macgillivray
relates how a male blackbird and female thrush fell in love with each
other, and produced offspring. (17. History of Brit. Birds, vol. ii.
p. 92.) Several years ago eighteen cases 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. 230. Mr. J. Jenner Weir has lately given me an
analogous case with ducks of two species.) states that out of a flock
of twenty-three Canada geese, a female paired with a solitary Bernicle
gander, although so different in appearance and size; and they produced
hybrid offspring. A male wigeon (Mareca penelope), living with females
of the same species, has been known to pair with a pintail duck,
Querquedula acuta. Lloyd describes the remarkable attachment between a
shield-drake (Tadorna vulpanser) and a common duck. Many additional
instances could be given; and the Rev. E.S. Dixon remarks that those
who have kept many different species of geese together well know what
unaccountable attachments they are frequently forming, and that they
are quite as likely to pair and rear young with individuals of a race
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