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The Periods of Gestation

The period of gestation is shorter in carnivorous than in herbivorous animals. The young of the former are also less developed at birth, their eyes not opening for several days thereafter. Herbivorous animals: - The elephant has 20 or 21 months' gestation; the giraffe, 14 months; dromedary, 12 months; buffalo, 12 months; ass, 12 months; mare, upwards of 11 months; rhinoceros, 9 months; cow, 9 months; many of the larger deer, over 8 months; sheep and goat, 5 months; pig, 4 months. Rodents: - Beaver, 4 months; dormouse, 31 days; rabbit, 30 to 31 days; squirrel and rat, 28 days; guinea-pig, 21 days or less.

Carnivorous:-Bear, 6 months; lion, 108 days; puma, 79 days; fox, wolf, and dog, 62-63 days; cats, 55 or 56 days. Pouched Animals: : - Kangaroo, 39 days; opossum, 26 days. Cetaceous Animals :-Greenland whale, about 10 months. The most common duration for the varieties of monkeys is 7 months. Oviparous Animals: -The goose sits 30 days; swan, 42 days; hens, 21 days; ducks, 30 days; pea-hens and turkeys, 28 days; canaries, 14 days; pigeons, 21 days; parrots, 40 days.

The periods are subject to considerable variation, especially in domestic animals, and various conditions modify the period, of which the above are only the averages.