Chap. XYII1. CHANGED CONDITIONS. 133 



the members of the pig family breed readily in our menageries ; 

 even the Eed Elver hog (Potamochoeras penicillatus), from the 

 sweltering plains of West Africa, has bred twice in the Zoological 

 Gardens. Here also the Peccary (Dicoti/les torquatus) has bred 

 several times ; but another species, the I), labiatus, though ren- 

 dered so tame as to be half-domesticated, is said to breed so rarely 

 in its native country of Paraguay, that according to Eengger 16 

 the fact requires confirmation. Mr. Bates remarks that the tapir, 

 though often kept tame in Amazonia by the Indians, never 

 breeds. 



Euminants generally breed quite freely in England, though 

 brought from widely different climates, as may be seen in the 

 Annual Eeports of the Zoological Gardens, and in the Gleanings 

 from Lord Derby's menagerie. 



The Carnivora, with the exception of the Plantigrade division, 

 breed (though with capricious exceptions) about half as freely as 

 ruminants. Many species of Felidae have bred in various mena- 

 geries, although imported from diverse climates and closely con- 

 fined. Mr. Bartlett, the present superintendent of the Zoological 

 Gardens, 17 remarks that the lion appears to breed more frequently 

 and to bring forth more young at a birth than any other species of 

 the family. He adds that the tiger has rarely bred ; " but there 

 are several well-authenticated instances of the female tiger breed- 

 ing 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 chetah (Felis juhatd) 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 themselves in 

 a state of nature are serviceable and worth training. 18 According 

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

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

 readily in the Zoological Gardens, yet conception by no means 

 always follows union : in the nine-year Report, 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 

 as>ured by the former superintendent, Mr. Miller, greatly increased 

 their fertility. Mr. Bartlett, and there cannot be a more capable 



Rambles in ltdia, 



16 ' Saugethiere,' 



s. 



327. 







140. 







17 On 



the Breed 



ing 



; of tl 



ie Lar 



g er 



18 



Sleeman': 



Felidse, ' 



: Proc. Zool 



28 



og. 



Soc.,' 



1861, 



P- 



vol. 



ii. p. 



10. 



