322 WOODRUFFE-PEACOCK : LINCOLNSHIRE NATURALISTS. 
rvived. In the case before us the smaller specimen lived twelve 
wee the larger six; so that, rather curiously, the larger specimen 
is only half the age of the other, which is very much smaller. He 
has another case of stuffed specimens, but it is at present lent 
elsewhere 
This hybrid production, having become known through the 
newspapers, led to a correspondence with various persons interested 
in the subject of hybrids. Amongst others, Professor Ewart, of 
Edinburgh, a well-known authority, was much interested in it; also 
the French savant, Mons. Suchetet, of Rouen, who has published 
works on hybrids; and he now possesses the mother of these 
specimens, with a view to further experiments. 
I saw the one surviving puppy a few days ago, now full grown. 
It has a very foxy look about the head, but longer legs, lighter body, 
shorter coat, and less bushy tail than the pure Fox, and with the 
keen eye of the Fox, it has the docility of the dog, and is very fond 
of its master. 
I may say that I have been told by an expert, that in cases of 
crosses generally, the ex/ernal structure of the produce follows that 
of the male progenitor, while the zz/ernal, neurotic, and other con- 
ditions follow those of the mother. For instance, a pure-bred white 
Lincolnshire boar pig, crossed with a black Berkshire sow, will 
invariably give a white, or mainly white progeny. 
When I acted as guide to this Union four years ago, at Wood- 
hall Spa, I exhibited a stuffed specimen of a cross between Hare 
and wild Rabbit. I would have shown it again to-day, as there are 
several new members present on this occasion; but that the roads 
are too hilly to allow of one’s carrying such cases about. I have 
had much correspondence about it. Among others, Mr. Walter 
Heape, of Cambridge, who is much interested in the subject of 
hybrids, recently wrote to me, asking my reasons for supposing it to 
be such a cross. My reply was, that I had not actually seen the act 
of copulation, and therefore could not state it as a positive fact ; 
but that my reasons were —that 
(1) The animal is the size of a hare. 
(2) Its fur is the rabbit grey. 
(3) The head is the shorter, and the ears the shorter, and more 
pricked, of the rabbit. 
One which I shot at, and missed, in the ling, bolted straight 
for a rabbit-hole, as though accustomed to : Ps I never knew 
a hare take to the ground in that ready w I have known 
a hare take to the tunnel of a field gateway, aera hard pressed by 
harriers, but that is a totally different thing. 
oy : 
Naturalist, 
