122 ' fte.MMC/tf HARE. 
The hare multiplies exceedingly ; it is in a 
state of gendering at a few months old ; the 
females go with young but thirty days, and gene- 
rally bring forth three or four at a time. As soon 
as they have produced their young, they are again 
ready for conception, and thus do not lose any 
time in continuing the breed. But they are in 
another respect fitted in an extraordinary manner 
for multiplying their kind ; for the female, from 
the conformation of her womb, is often seen to 
bring forth, and yet to continue pregnant at the 
same time ; or, in other words, to have young onei 
of different ages in her womb together. Other 
animals never receive the male when pregnant, but 
bring forth their young at once. JBut it is fre- 
quently different with the hare ; the female, often, 
though already impregnated, admitting the male, 
and thus receiving a second impregnation. The 
reason in this extraordinary circumstance is, that 
the womb of these animals is divided in such a 
manner that it may be considered as a double organ, 
one side of which may be filled while the other 
remains empty. Thus these animals may be seen 
to couple at every period of their pregnancy, and 
even while they are bringing forth young, laying 
the foundation of another brood. 
The young of these animals are brought forth 
with their eyes open, and the dam suckles them for 
twenty days, after which they leave her, and seek 
out for themselves. From this we observe, that 
the education these animals receive is but trifling, 
and the family connection but of a short duration. 
In the rapacious kinds the dam leads her young 
forth for months together ; teaches them the arts 
of rapine ; and, although she wants milk to sup- 
ply them, yet keeps them under her care until they 
are able to hunt for themselves. But a long con- 
nection of this kind would be very unnecessary as 
