British Gnawing Mammals 



luxuriously within its cushion of fur, fed meanwhile by 

 its mother's milk. During those days its parent, as 

 it leaves the dark recesses of the burrow where its 

 offspring sleeps, carefully throws the loose earth 

 against the entrance of its tunnel, while it goes out to 

 feed upon the bulging turnip or succulent blade of 

 wheat. 



Until the hour that her nestlings' eyes are open the 

 dam acts thus, day after day. From that hour the 

 young Rabbit is a savage of the wilds. Capture one of 

 those rodents and place it in a hutch ; in all proba- 

 bility, eight years hence, if it lives, it will still be 

 a savage of the wilds. Eight years is about the average 

 life of a Rabbit. It is seldom the wild rodent takes 

 kindly to artificial surroundings, although in many 

 instances it may be found in colonies close upon the 

 habitations of man. 



Like the Blue Rock Pigeon, it retains its colouring, 

 despite all attempts to introduce an alien marking. It 

 approaches the artificial surroundings of man, and yet 

 retains its wild individuality. It is a truly wild 

 creature, and will ever remain so. Its race is of long 

 pedigree, not only in blood, but as free rovers of the 

 woods and meadows. 



By its habits the Rabbit is guarded from many 

 enemies. The open daylight seldom sees it abroad, 

 unless to lie peacefully in some grassy tuft, awaiting the 

 afterglow. As twilight draws over the fields it stretches 

 its limbs after its long siesta, and hops into the turnip- 



64 



