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Fecundity of Animals

The elephant, camel, and horse very seldom produce more than one at a time; the lion, 1, oftener 2 or 3, sometimes 5, or more. The fecundity of the domestic rabbit is marvellous. It begins to breed at six months, and has 7 litters a year, each of from 4 to 12, or upwards. It is calculated that the descendants of a single pair of rabbits, if allowed full scope, would in four years, amount to over 11/4 millions. The rabbit, introduced into Australia, has now overrun that continent to such excess as to demand special legislation for its suppression. Some 2,000 men are employed in New South Wales alone in the destruction of this rodent. Since 1870, Victoria has voted considerably over £100,000 for the destruction of the rabbit, and high prizes are offered for a recipe for its extirpation.