232 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORV. 



at birth, the young Rabbits develop with amazing rapidity, and 

 are soon able to feed and shift for themselves. It is by no 

 means always, however, that they are allowed to see the light 

 of day, for either the Polecat, Stoat, or Weasel may enter the 

 burrow and destroy the whole litter (and not improbably the 

 mother as well) ; or the Badger may dig straight down and 

 ruthlessly root out the whole. Even after they venture abroad, 

 many fall victims to prowling Cats, Foxes, and other Carnivores. 

 When alarmed by impending danger, the old Rabbit strikes the 

 ground forcibly with the hind-feet, thus making a sound which 

 serves as a signal to her progeny, as well as to the rest of the 

 colony, to follow her white tail back to the burrow with all the 

 speed they can command. 



It is scarcely necessary to say that the wild Rabbit is the 

 ancestral stock from which have been derived the whole of the 

 numerous domesticated races, some of which greatly exceed 

 the wild form in size; while others are remarkable for their 

 drooping ears, or the great length of their fur. 



In addition to being largely used as an article of food, the 

 Rabbit, both wild and tame, is an important animal in the fur- 

 trade. According to Mr. Poland, the annual collection of 

 French and Belgian skins is two millions, while the English 

 collection reaches the enormous total of thirty millions. Of 

 these skins, the majority ''are dyed brown or black. They 

 are sometimes clipped and dyed dark brown as imitation fur- 

 seal, or clipped and dyed black, or they are dyed as imitation 

 Beaver, and a few are dyed light brown ; in fact, the fur of the 

 Rabbit is used more extensively than any other fur, except that 

 of the Musk-Rat and Squirrel. It exceeds these in size, is very 

 cheap, and is of almost universal use, being employed on the 

 Continent, in North America, and some also in Australia. The 

 fur is, however, not otherwise desirable, as it soon wears out. 

 Some white skins are clipped and dyed ' snow-flake.' " 



