7926 



Quadrupeds. 



than at first. They are superior in beauty, strength and size to the 

 two species whence they derive their origin. Apart from all scientific 

 consideration, M. Roux has, then, obtained one of the most important 

 practical results : he has created a new race, which promises to be of 

 great service, and which probably will soon become generally dis- 

 tributed." 



But if the practical experiment was concluded, there was still 

 something to be desired by Science. M. Roux only endeavoured to 

 produce the most profitable race, without considering the question of 

 species, or the requirements of Physiology. These points M. Broca 

 takes under his own consideration, after a long series of experiments 

 have been tried. He now proceeds to describe what he saw and 

 heard at M. Roux's establishment, and states that he cannot question 

 the truth of M. Roux's information. 



It is found that when a full-grown male hare and doe rabbit are 

 placed together, the two animals usually fight to the death, or, if not, 

 they never unite. Coupling does not even take place if animals only 

 three or four months old are brought up together: it is necessary to take 

 male leverets three or four weeks old, when they can leave their mother, 

 and bring them up with domesticated rabbits of the same age, and to 

 separate them from every other animal of their own species. The female 

 rabbits, never having known their natural partners, believe the hares to 

 be such, and vice versa. The young hares become accustomed to con- 

 finement, and, under the influence of example, lose part of their wild 

 instincts. When full grown the hares must be separated from one 

 another, and one or more of the doe rabbits, reared in their company, 

 given to them. The cross is then effected without difficulty. M.Roux 

 had not tried the buck rabbit with the doe hare. 



The domesticated rabbits chosen by M. Roux for his experiments 

 naturally produce from eight to twelve young in a litter; united with 

 the hare they rarely have more than eight little ones, sometimes only 

 five or six, the number being generally intermediate between those 

 of the parents. 



To effect the crossing at his will, and not to exhaust the hares by 

 too frequent unions, M. Roux separated them from the rabbits when 

 they had once performed their duties. He also isolated, in as many 

 separate cages, the females he intended for them. When he wished 

 to effect the cross he placed the hare at nightfall in a cage with a 

 rabbit in heat, and withdrew him the next morning : that invariably 

 sufficed; union took place as certainly as between two rabbits. But 

 it was observed that the hare — more continent or timid than (he 



