420 LECTURE XIV. 



bits, a sliy expression, larger eyes, apparently placed nearer 

 the nose, tlie liind legs are longer, almost as long as in the 

 hare ; the fore legs are both absolutely and relatively longer 

 than in the rabbit. The ears are almost as long as in the hare, 

 but singularly enough, in all the young and in most of the old, 

 sometimes the left sometimes the right ear is pendulous, whilst 

 the other ear is erect. 



The breeding of these three-eighth hai'es has been carried 

 on since 1850, and assuming but five litters per annum, we 

 have now arrived at the sixtieth generation, without the hybrids 

 having shown any marked change in their external condition 

 or diminution of their generative powers. Here then we have 

 a proof that two acknowledged different species may produce 

 indefinitely prolific descendants, preser-ving the same characters. 

 The three-eighth hares have thus become a constant species, 

 with definite characters, which are propagated indefinitely, 

 and thus present all the marks of a zoological species. We 

 will admit that it is an artificial species, which probably would 

 not have been formed in a vnld state, it being known that wild 

 rabbits and hares are hostile to each other in this state ; 

 and that the rabbits, though smaller and apparently weaker, 

 drive away the hares ; hence German sportsmen look upon them 

 as vermin which must be destroyed. They are rarely eaten in 

 Grermany; while in France the wild rabbit is considered a delicacy. 

 We will also admit that three-eighth hares, when set at liberty 

 amongst wild rabbits and hares, may lose their intermediate cha- 

 racter, and by recrossing may be absorbed in the parent stock, 

 although we possess no certain proof of that. But what bearing 

 has all this upon the point in question ? Is the fact hereby 

 altered that a new species has been produced by the crossing 

 of two species, both of which are known to us in the wild 

 state, and one of which has been tamed, whilst the other, 

 in Germany, namely, the hare, has never been domesticated ? 



Eaces, it has been said, are distinguished from species by 

 the production of mongrels, which are indefinitely prohfic; 

 but on closely examining this point it will be found that the 

 assertion is without foundation. 



There are cases where coition between individuals belonffino- 



