NATURAL HISTORY OF THE RABBIT 43 



often less difficulty in making them bolt than they 

 had the rabbits.' 



It is, of course, well known that cats, when deprived 

 wholly or in part of their young, will suckle the young 

 of other animals, and they seem to take very kindly 

 to young rabbits. This usually happens when the 

 latter are purposely supplied to them ; but instances 

 are on record in which cats have been known to bring 

 home young rabbits on their own account, and nurse 

 them with care. Mr. H. D. Nadin, of Burton-on- 

 Trent, writing on May 17, 1890, says: 'A cat kept 

 by the blacksmiths in their shop at a colliery in which 

 I am interested, gave birth to three kittens a short 

 time ago. One of these died at once, and the mother 

 was much distressed by the loss. She accordingly 

 made a journey across some fields to a rabbit warren 

 distant about a hundred yards, whence she obtained 

 and carried back a young rabbit (about ten days old), 

 which she suckled along with the two remaining 

 kittens, treating it in every way as if it were her own 

 progeny. This she continued to do for four days, but 

 during that time she gradually became uneasy, as the 

 workmen persisted in coming to view the novel sight. 

 She then commenced to carry both the kittens and 

 rabbit about, and on the fifth day they were not 

 to be found. After a good search, however, the two 



