Teachers' Leaflet. 499 



also has to do with snififing danger, for it is only through sure flight that 

 these little animals may escape from the many enemies, which surround 

 them. The rahbits are peculiar also in that the bottoms of their feet are 

 hairy. The front feet cannot be used to hold food to the mouth like 

 squirrel and mice; the pupils should notice that this is not needed as the 

 rabbit eats on the ground. For detailed lesson on the rabbit see " Nature 

 and the Child," Scott, pp. 38-88. 



LESSON LX. 



THE HABITS OF WILD RABBITS. 



Purpose. — To cultivate in the pupils an interest in the habits of our 

 wild species. 



First, there should be a discussion of how many species of wild 

 rabbits there are in the locality. In the north-eastern United States there 

 is only one common species and that is the gray rabbit or cotton-tail ; 

 the varying hare or white rabbit, which was common here fifty years 

 ago has become practically exterminated. This was one of the most 

 interesting of the species, because it changed its coat to white in the 

 winter. If the pupils are able to study the wild rabbit in nature, let their 

 observations cover the following questions ; but if they are so situated that 

 they cannot do this, let them read some of the following stories and 

 answer the questions from what they thus learn: Where does the wild 

 rabbit live? What does it eat? How does it protect itself? Bring out 

 in this the protection which the rabbit gets from its color and also from 

 its habit of " freezing " as well as by running. Describe its runways 

 and " forms." How is the nest built for the young, and how are they 

 protected ? How do rabbits show anger or surprise ? What are the chief 

 enemies of the rabbit ? Describe how the rabbit makes its peculiar tracks, 

 the print of the hind feet always being in advance of the front feet. 



Supplementary Reading. — " Raggylug," Thompson Seton " Squirrels 

 and Other Fur Bearers," Burroughs, p. 37. " Rabbit Roads in Watchers 

 in the Woods," Sharpe. "American Animals," Stone & Cram, p. 73. 

 '' Familiar Life in Field and Forest," Mathews, p. 263. To point the 

 fact that the rabbit's runways are in the protecting briar patch read 

 the Tar Baby in Uncle Remus stories. " Neighbors with Claws and 

 Hoofs," Johonnot, p. 85. " True Tales of Birds and Beasts," Jordan, 

 p. 83. " Friends in Feathers and Fur," Johonnot, p. 96. "A Bunny 

 Romance," in "The Bashful Earthquake," Hereford. "Little War- 

 horse," in Animal Heroes. 



