76 | Miscellaneous. 
This will occur indeed sometimes when a young 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 only 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 they 
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. : 
