146 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Socvety. 
Account of Scotland,” the Rabbit is often mentioned, 
but chiefly as an inhabitant of maritime localities. In 
vol. xvii., p. 577, we are told that when Binning wood, 
at Tyninghame, was planted in 1707, “the East Links 
were a dead and barren sand, with scarcely any 
grass upon them, and of no use but as a rabbit-warren.” 
The extensive sand-dunes stretching along the coast behind 
the village of Gullane, in East Lothian, have long been a 
noted warren. De Saussure, the Swiss naturalist, who visited 
these “ grandes plaines de sable” in June 1807, in company 
with Patrick Neill, tells us that “un tres-grand nombre de 
lapins sauvages habitent ces dunes” (“ Voyage en Kcosse,” 
vol. i., p. 162). Again, we read in Stark’s “ Picture of Edin- 
burgh” (1834, p. 297), that the city market was then plenti- 
fully supplied with rabbits “ brought chiefly from the extensive 
warrens at Gulane Links or downs in East Lothian.” 
Several varieties, doubtless the descendants of domestic 
animals run wild, are to be met with. One of these is thus 
referred to by Neill in the Scots Magazine for 1816, p. 170 :— 
“ On the Isle of May, in the entrance of the Firth of Forth, 
there exists a well-marked variety of the rabbit, distinguished 
not only by the great length of the hair, but by its silky 
fineness.” Mr Agnew, for many years lighthouse-keeper on 
the island, tells me this form was still there when he left 
five years ago. I have recently observed a yellowish variety 
in some numbers on Gullane hill, and others with black fur 
near Cramond and on the Pentlands. 
A hundred years ago the skin was the most valuable part 
of the animal; “The skins may be valued at 6s. a dozen, and 
the body sells at the rate of 5d. per pair” (“ Old Statistical 
Account,” parish of Dowally, vol. xx., p. 472). Now the 
skins are worth about 2s. a dozen, and the bodies are sold 
at 2s. 6d. a pair. Within the last two years the price of the 
skins has fallen by about one-half, owing to the large im- 
portation from Australia and New Zealand. 
If, as seems highly probable, the Rabbit was originally 
introduced into Scotland, it was most likely by the monks. 
The monastery on the Isle of May was founded by David I. 
before the middle of the twelfth century. 
