76 Observations on the Breeding of Rabbits 



well calculated to their nature, would, I will make bold to 

 say, the eighth year after their introduction, furnish the 

 British market with a valuable raw material, amounting to 

 a large sum, increasing every year with astonishing rapidity, 

 so as to become, in a few years, one amongst the first of. 

 national objects. 



It may be supposed by some, that the above project is 

 magnified beyond possibility} or even probability ; but from 

 the serious attention I have paid to the subject, these many 

 years past, as to all points for and against, leaves no room 

 to accuse myself of being too sanguine ; for, if properly ma- 

 naged a few years at the first, I cannot find a single thing 

 likely to interrupt their progress. 



Some idea of the astonishing increase of the rabbit may 

 be had from the following facts : 



An old doe rabbit will bring forth young nine times in 

 one year, and from four to ten each time ; but to allow for 

 casualties, state the numbei* at five each litter. 



In nine months - - - -- _ 45 

 The females of the first litter will bring forth five times, 



the proportion of which is 3| females' produce 62 



Those, of the second litter four times produce - - 50 

 Ditto of ditto third ditto three ditto ditto - 37 



Ditto of ditto second ditto two ditto ditto -. 25 



Total in one year from one pair - 2 19 



The third female race of the old dam, and the second of 

 the first litter, seldom breed the first year, but are early 

 breeders in the spring following, when we might expect an 

 increase of the whole in proportion to the first pair, if pro- 

 perlv attended to and protected. 



It is generally allowed, that hares are not more than one 

 fourth as prolific as rabbits, notwithstanding, agreeable to an 

 experiment tried by Lord Ribblesdale, who enclosed a pair 

 of hares for one year, the offspring was (as I have been cre- 

 dibly informed) 68 : these animals, could they be exported 

 to Upper Canada w'lth safety, and there protected within 

 enclosures for a few years, would soon after spread over a 



large 



