36 THE RABBIT 



here have considerably exceeded the average weight 

 of wild rabbits, although I believe, and am told by 

 visitors, that the number on the ground is altogether 

 unprecedented ; but this season (December, 1893) 

 they are larger and fatter than usual, which I attribute 

 to the unusually heavy crop of acorns shed by a 

 number of old oak trees growing here and there in 

 the warren. As soon as the acorns began to drop, the 

 rabbits attacked them, and now nothing but the husks 

 are left, scattered like chaff on the pasture, for the 

 rabbits eat the kernel only. I had the curiosity to 

 make a post-mortem examination of two killed pro- 

 miscuously for use, weighing together nearly 7 lb. 

 after paunching, and was struck by the large amount 

 of fat in both, the kidneys being quite bedded in fat. 

 Rabbits, such as you buy, are usually almost destitute 

 of fat, and in our case, no doubt, it is due to the rich 

 nourishing acorn food, which contains an enormous 

 percentage of potash, lime, and phosphoric acid. The 

 rabbits have been remarkably lively also, and the fur 

 of those killed is fine and dense. As acorns, when 

 moderately plentiful, can be collected by children for 

 Zd. or \s. per bushel, it will be understood what an 

 excellent and cheap supply of food is often available 

 for rabbit warrens, where a bushel goes a long way. 

 Acorns are often collected in this way for deer in 



