K34 ANIMALS OF THE 



THE RABBIT. 



THE Hare and the Rabbit, though so very 

 nearly resembling each other in form and disposi- 

 tion, are yet distinct kinds, as they refuse to mix 

 with each other. M. Buffon bred up several of 

 both kinds in the same place *, but from being at 

 first indifferent, they soon became enemies, and 

 their combats were generally continued until one 

 of them was disabled or destroyed. However, 

 though these experiments were not attended with 

 success, I am assured that nothing is more fre- 

 quent than an animal bred between these two, 

 but which, like the mule, is marked with sterility. 

 Nay, it has been actually known that the rabbit 

 couples with animals of a much more distant na- 

 ture ; and there is at present, in the Museum at 

 Brussels, a creature covered with feathers and 

 hair, and said to be bred between a rabbit and 

 a hen. 



The fecundity of the rabbit is still greater than 

 that of the hare ; and if we should calculate the 

 produce from a single pair, in one year, the 

 number would be amazing. They breed seven 

 times in a year, and bring forth eight young ones 

 each time. On a supposition, therefore, that 

 this happens regularly, at the end of four years 

 a couple of rabbits shall see a progeny of almost 

 a million and a half. From hence we might justly 

 apprehend being overstocked by their increase ; 

 but, happily for mankind, their enemies are nu- 

 merous, and their nature inoffensive ; so that 



