76 Miscellaneous. 



This will occur indeed sometimes when a youug male leveret has 

 been brought up with young female rabbits, as soon as they become 

 adult, if the cage be too constrained in its dimensions. In order 

 that the experiment may succeed, it is necessary to provide a cage of 

 a certain extent, say of some metres, barred in some portions and 

 pannelled in others, so that the animals may escape observation at 

 pleasure. It is well also to leave several females with the young 

 male, in order that he may have some range for choice. Such 



measures were adopted by M, , of Nanterre, near Paris, whose 



success has been as complete as it is perfectly attested and indubit- 

 able. Several female rabbits were rendered pregnant by the agency 

 of a single male hare existing in his menagerie ; he has further been 

 able to rear to the adult state a number of the mongrels or, rather, 

 mules so obtained between the two species. There were both males 

 and females, apparently strong and well developed ; and these paired, 

 but have not been productive, as far as I know, hitherto. I would 

 not deny to these mongrels a fecundity similar in degree to that 

 which is sometimes found in the cross between ass and mare ; but 

 such a case is only exceptional, and we can neither fear nor indeed 

 hope to create a new race : so that from this point of view the 

 Leporides do not exist. 



The instance cited by M. Albert Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, in which 

 a female hare covered by a male rabbit gave birth to a young already 

 covered with fur, and having the eyes open, is a most remarkable 

 one ; it could, however, be merely a case of a cross retaining the 

 form of the mother, and no more fertile than in the case of those 

 hybrids between the Ass and the horse in which the latter animal 

 (the male) gives the predominant character to the offspring. 



These experiments may be repeated and varied, proceeding with 

 very young animals brought up together and enjoying a certain 

 liberty, although confined in the hutch. It is of especial import- 

 ance, in breeding with the male hare, to provide several females, 

 whether of rabbit or of hare, always, however, isolating them as 

 soon as they are ready to bring forth (in twenty-eight or thirty days). 

 That the hare, when in good condition, will produce several times a 

 year admits of no doubt ; but as she does not burrow, it is necessary 

 to furnish her with a sufficient quantity of twigs, and to keep them 

 extremely fresh and clean. Although in captivity the hare usually 

 produces onlj^ one or two young, she has been known to bring forth 

 three, and to rear them with great tenderness ; it is, however, neces- 

 sary to remove them early from the male, and even from the female, 

 who will often strangle them as soon as they are capable of living 

 independently, especially if they are about pairing again. 



The rearing of hares in captivity is but a thankless task, as thgy 

 do not live long, wanting a sufficient space for running ; their flesh, 

 also, is insipid, unless, indeed, they are let loose some months pre- 

 viously in an area perfectly free from rabbits ; for between these two 

 species there rages a most inveterate war ; and a single rabbit 

 would with ease strangle fifty hares in one night. The female, also, 

 is not very productive, and ceases to bear after the third year. 



