&ABBXT, 1^9 
Ere assured that nothing is more frequent than an 
animal bred between these two, but winch, like the 
mule, is marked with sterility. Nay, it has been 
actually known that the rabbit couples with ani- 
mals of a much more distant nature ; and there 
is at present in the museum at Brussels, a creature 
covered with feathers and hair, and said to be bred 
between a rabbit and a hen. The fecundity of the 
rabbit is still greater than that of the hare ; and 
if we should calculate the produce from a single 
pair in one year, the number would be amazing. 
They breed seven times in a year, and bring eight 
young ones each time. On a supposition, there- 
fore, that this happens regularly, at the end of 
four years, a couple of rabbits shall see a progeny 
©f almost a million and a half. From hence we 
must justly apprehend being overstocked by their 
increase ; but, happily for mankind, their enemies 
are numerous, and their nature inoffensive ; so that 
their destruction bears a near proportion to their 
fertility. 
But although their numbers be diminished by 
©very beast and bird of prey, and still more by 
man himself, yet there is no danger of their cxtir- 
pation. The hare is a poor, defenceless animal, 
that has nothing but its swiftness to depend on for 
safety ; its numbers are, therefore, every day de- 
creasing ; and in countries that are well peopled, 
the speties are so much kept under, that laws are 
made for their preservation. Still, however, it is 
most likely that they will be at last totally de- 
stroyed ; and, like the wolf or the elk in some 
countries, be only kept in remembrance; But it 
is otherwise with the rabbit, its fecundity being 
greater, and its means of safety more certain. 
The hare seems to have more various arts and in- 
stincts to escape its pursuers, by doubling, squat- * 
VOL. ii 9 $ 
i 
