Chap. XVIII. CHANGED CONDITIONS. 151 



" but' there are several well-authenticated instances of the female tiger 

 breeding with the lion." Strange as the fact may appear, many animals 

 under confinement unite with distinct species and produce hybrids quite 

 as freely as, or even more freely than, with their own species. On 

 inquiring from Dr. Falconer and others, it appears that the tiger when 

 confined in India does not breed, though it has been known to couple. 

 The cheetah (Felis jubatu) has never been known by Mr. Bartlett to breed 

 in England, but it has bred at Frankfort ; nor does it breed in India, where 

 it is kept in large numbers for hunting; but no pains would be taken 

 to make them breed, as only those animals which have hunted for them- 

 selves in a state of nature are serviceable and worth training. 17 According 

 to Eengger, two species of wild cats -in Paraguay, though thoroughly 

 tamed, have never bred. Although so many of the Felidse breed readily 

 in the Zoological Gardens, yet conception by no means always follows 

 union : in the nine-year Eeport, various species are specified which were 

 observed to couple seventy-three times, and no doubt this must have 

 passed many times unnoticed; yet from the seventy-three unions only 

 fifteen births ensued. The Carnivora in the Zoological Gardens were 

 formerly less freely exposed to the air and cold than at present, and this 

 change of treatment, as I was assured by the former superintendent, Mr. 

 Miller, greatly increased their fertility. Mr. Bartlett, and there cannot be 

 a more capable judge, says, " it is remarkable that lions breed more freely 

 " in travelling collections than in the Zoological Gardens ; probably the 

 " constant excitement and irritation produced by moying from place to 

 " place, or change of air, may have considerable influence in the matter." 



Many members of the Dog family breed readily when confined. The 

 Dhole is one of the most untameable animals in India, yet a pair kept 

 there by Dr. Falconer produced young. Foxes, on the other hand, rarely 

 breed, and I have never heard of such an occurrence with the European 

 fox: the silver fox of North America (Oanis argentatus), however, has bred 

 several times in the Zoological Gardens. Even the otter has bred there. 

 Every one knows how readily the semi-domesticated ferret breeds, though 

 shut up in miserably small cages; but other species of Viverra and 

 Paradoxurus absolutely refuse to breed in the Zoological Gardens. The 

 Genetta has bred both here and in the Jardin des Plantes, and produced 

 hybrids. The Herpestes fasciatus has likewise bred ; but I was formerly 

 assured that the II. griseus, though many were kept in the Gardens, never 

 bred. 



The Plantigrade Carnivora breed under confinement much less freely, 

 without our being able to assign any reason, than other members of the 

 group. In the nine-year Eeport it is stated that the bears had been 

 seen in the Zoological Gardens to couple freely, but previously to 1848 

 had most rarely conceived. In the Eeports published since this date three 

 species have produced young (hybrids in one case), and, wonderful to 

 relate, the white Polar bear has produced young. The badger (Meles taxus) 

 has bred several times in the Gardens; but I have not heard of this 



J 7 Sleeman's ' Rambles in India,' vol. ii. p. 10. 



