[ARTICLE] 6
[LEGEND]
[RESTATED]
[CIK] 0000751173
[NAME] EXETER FUND, INC.
[SERIES]
[NAME] DEFENSIVE SERIES
[NUMBER] 2
[MULTIPLIER] 1
[CURRENCY] 1
[FISCAL-YEAR-END] OCT-31-2000
[PERIOD-START] NOV-01-1999
[PERIOD-END] OCT-31-2000
[PERIOD-TYPE] 12-MOS
[EXCHANGE-RATE] 1
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST] 4692864
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE] 4779491
[RECEIVABLES] 99379
[ASSETS-OTHER] 2035
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS] 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS] 4880905
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES] 480
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT] 0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES] 42424
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES] 42904
[SENIOR-EQUITY] 0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON] 4507448
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK] 433566
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR] 455382
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT] 116448
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII] 0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS] 127509
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS] 0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC] 86596
[NET-ASSETS] 4838001
[DIVIDEND-INCOME] 15821
[INTEREST-INCOME] 231112
[OTHER-INCOME] 0
[EXPENSES-NET] 48158
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME] 198775
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT] 133723
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT] 159623
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS] 492121
[EQUALIZATION] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME] 194531
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS] 42821
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER] 0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD] 117707
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED] 162468
[SHARES-REINVESTED] 22945
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS] 1243
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR] 235418
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR] 39396
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES] 38528
[INTEREST-EXPENSE] 0
[GROSS-EXPENSE] 107476
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS] 4814762
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN] 10.62
[PER-SHARE-NII] 0.46
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC] 0.62
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND] 0.44
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS] 0.10
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL] 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END] 11.16
[EXPENSE-RATIO] 1.00
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
