A Hare with Two Sets of Sucklings. 149 



An instance has come to my knowledge of no less than 

 ten young being found in the same nest, all presumably 

 the litter and progeny of a single pair. And when it is 

 taken into account that during the spring and summer 

 months these animals breed as often as house pigeons, 

 that is, bring forth a fresh brood every five or six 

 weeks, the increase in their numbers may be set down as 

 something very surprising. Were they not kept under 

 by the multitude of their enemies both beasts and birds 

 of the rapacious order they would soon overrun any 

 country which claims them as part of its fauna, and 

 make havoc of all that appertains to the industry of farm 

 and garden. By good luck they are fairly palatable as 

 an article of food, which guards against their ever be- 

 coming a pest altogether unprofitable. 



A HARE WITH TWO SETS OF SUCKLINGS. 



The hare, though not so prolific as its near congener, 

 the rabbit, is nevertheless known to bring forth several 

 times during a single season; and sometimes in such 

 quick succession that the young of one gestation are not 

 quite cleared out of the way before the litter following 

 claims the fostering attention of the teat. Of this fact 

 an instance came under the observation of one of my 

 friends but a few summers ago. He was seated by the 

 side of a wood with a pasture field adjoining, quietly 

 smoking his cigar, when his attention was attracted to a 

 doe hare, which, running out some short distance into the 

 pasture, was there joined by a brace of leverets her own, 

 of course these setting to and applying themselves 



