Eland-Ox Hybrid

Abstract

DB. WARREN'S ¹ interesting cow-eland hybrid is the sixth mammalian intergeneric cross of which I can find a record. The polecat and ferret, which hybridise, have been placed in different genera, but with very doubtful propriety. Apart from these, the other crosses all involve Bos. Bos taurus has given hybrids with Poëphagus grunniens, Bison bison, and Bison bonasus, and Bos indicus with Bibos frontalis and Bibos sondaicus. In every case the male hybrids were sterile and the females fertile. There was also a significant excess of females where the sex ratio was recorded. I have summarised the literature elsewhere.² It is to be hoped that if Dr. Warren's male hybrid calf proves sterile, as seems likely, its testes will be preserved for cytological examination, and the attempt made to breedfemale hybrids.