312 MAMMALIA. 



Audubon and Bachman state: "In the Northern and Middle 

 States, where the burrows of the Maryland marmot (Arctomys 

 monax) and the holes resorted to by the common skunk, (Mephitis 

 chinga^) are numerous, the Gray Rabbit, in order to effect its 

 escape when pursued, betakes itself to them, and as they are gen- 

 erally deep, or placed among rocks or roots, it would require more 

 labour to unearth it when it has taken possession of either of these 

 animal's retreats than it is worth, and it is generally left unmolested. 

 It is not always safe in these cases, however, for the skunk occa- 

 sionally is ' at home ' when the Rabbit runs into his hole, and often 

 catches and devours the astonished fugitive before it can retrace 

 its steps and reach the mouth of the burrow." * 



Kennicott says : " The grey rabbit is very prolific, producing 

 young three or four times a year, and usually from four to six at a 

 birth. In open ground the female scratches a shallow hollow, in 

 which to bring forth her young. In this she forms a nest of soft 

 leaves and grasses, well-lined with fur from her own body ; and 

 when she is absent, the young are always completely covered and 

 concealed in the nest, which they leave at an early age, and sepa- 

 rate from the mother as soon as able to take care of themselves." f 



* Quadrupeds of North America, Vol. I, 1846, p. 177. 



f Quadrupeds of Illinois Injurious and Beneficial to the Farmer. By Robert Kennicott, 1858, 

 p. 8l. 



