THE HARES— HARES PROPER. 



377 



self. There in suitable locations it establishes rather 

 inconspicuous burrows, if possible, with a sunny ex- 

 posure. The animals congregate generally in colo- 

 nies which often seem to have an organized func- 

 tional government. Every burrow consists of a 

 rather deep-lying central chamber from which radi- 

 ate curving tunnels, each of which is provided with 

 several places of exit. These tunnel mouths usually 

 are more or less enlarged by the frequent passing of 

 the animals in and out; the tunnel proper, however, 

 is so narrow that the inhabitants can just creep 

 through. Every couple has its own domicile, and 

 allows no other animal in it; the tunnels of several 

 burrows often communicate, however. In its bur- 

 row the Rabbit lies hidden all day, unless the bushes 

 around are so thick that it can, entirely screened 

 from observation, obtain its food. As soon as even- 

 ing draws on it emerges, using a great deal of pre- 

 caution and carefully reconnoitering before it leaves 

 its hole. If it suspects danger it warns its compan- 

 ions by a vigorous drumming on the earth with its 

 hind legs, and all scramble back into their holes. 



The movements of the 

 Rabbit differ materially 

 from those of the Hare. 

 In the first place the 

 Rabbit usually surpasses 

 the Hare in speed and 

 always in agility. It is 

 thoroughly conversant 

 with the art of baffling 

 its pursuers by a series 

 of short doubles, and 

 executes its turns and 

 crooks in a masterly 

 way, requiring an excel- 

 lently trained Dog or a 

 good marksman to bring 

 it down. Much craftier 

 than the Hare, it very 

 rarely suffers itself to 

 be surprised when feed- 

 ing and always finds a 

 hole in which to hide. 

 If it were to pursue a 

 line of flight straight 

 ahead, it could be caught 

 in a short time by any 

 moderately swift Dog; 

 but it takes refuge in 

 bushes, crannies, and 

 holes, and usually suc- 

 ceeds in baffling the pur- 

 suit of its enemies. The 

 senses of sight, hearing 

 and scent are as acute 

 and perhaps even keener 

 than the same senses in 

 the Hare. The char- 

 acter of the Rabbit presents many prepossessing 

 .phases. It is sociable and gentle, the mothers nur- 

 ture their young with warm affection and the young 

 hold their parents in great veneration, the patriarch 

 of a whole society being accorded particularly great 

 honor. From early spring until October the female 

 Rabbit gives birth to a litter of from four to twelve 

 young every five weeks, these broods being born 

 in a special chamber, which the mother carefully 

 lines with fur from her own fleece. The little ones 

 remain blind for several days and stay in the warm 

 nest with the mother, who suckles them until the 



next litter arrives. The mother is tenderly attached 

 to them and leaves her family alone only when she 

 is forced by hunger to seek food. 



Early Fecund-^ 1° warm countries the young are 



ity of Rab- capable of reproduction in their 

 bits. n fth month, in cold climates in the 



eighth, but they do not attain their full growth until 

 a full year old. If we suppose that there are seven 

 litters a year, averaging eight individuals, the prog- 

 eny of one pair of Rabbits would attain the prodig- 

 ious number of 1,274,840 in four years. 



The Food of The food of the Rabbit is exactly 

 the Rab- the same as that of the Hare. But 

 blt - it inflicts a great deal more palpable 



damage, not only because it confines itself in its for- 

 aging to a smaller space, but also owing to its fancy 

 for gnawing the bark of trees, through which means 

 it sometimes destroys entire orchards or groves. It 

 is difficult to realize what ravages may be perpe- 

 trated by a colony of Rabbits, especially consider- 

 ing the enormous fecundity of the species, if their 

 multiplication be not checked. 



THE EUROPEAN RABBIT. — One of the most common of mammals found in 

 Hares in its more slender build, smaller head and shorter ears, and other particular 

 family of these animals enjoying themselves in fancied security. (Lepus cuniculus.) 



Id state. It differs from the 

 The picture shows a happy 



The Rabbit an Rabbits also drive away other game 

 Undesirable by their restless activity, and Hares 

 Tenant. are seldom found where the Rabbits 



have gained supremacy. Where they believe them- 

 selves secure their impudence assumes incredible 

 proportions. In the Prater at Vienna there formerly 

 were thousands of them that fearlessly ran about by 

 day and did not suffer themselves to be disturbed in 

 their foraging for food either by calls or by missiles 

 thrown at them. They are nowhere protected and 

 are killed even during the close season — the time 

 when no other game is to be molested. Neverthe- 



