382 CHORD ATA, 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

 CHORDA TA—( Continued.) 



VI.— LEPUS. 



Phylum Chordata (p. 402). 



Sub-phylum . . . . Vertebrata (p. 405). 

 Class Mammalia (p. 453). 



Lepus cuniculus (the Common Rabbit) is a type of 

 the more highly organised and commoner mammals. Its 

 general appearance and habits are too well known to necessi- 

 tate much description. Of a habit partially terrestrial and 

 partially fossorial or burrowing, the rabbit is little specialised 

 though one of the most successful and dominant of mam- 

 mals. In nature it is gregarious and of high fecundity. In 

 these respects, and in the burrowing habits, it differs from 

 its close ally the hare {Lepus timidus). Except when run- 

 ning it is plantigrade, i.e., places the whole foot upon the 

 ground. 



We can readily recognise a head, neck, body and tail. 



The whole body is coloured a dull greenish-brown which 



E t ai harmonises closely with its usual surroundings, 



„ ^ but the under-surface of the tail is ivhite, the 



under-surface of the body having a tendency 



to assume the same colour. It has been suggested that the 



white tail, so conspicuous when the rabbit runs or disappears 



down its burrow, is useful as a *' danger signal " to the other 



members of the community that it is time to be moving. 



The mouth is at the anterior end of the head, and is 

 bounded by soft lips which cover a single row of teeth. 

 The paired external nares open above the mouth, and 

 laterally to them are long sensitive bristles or vibrissce. 

 Further back are the large paired eyes, facing laterally, 

 which are guarded, as in the pigeon, by three eye-lids 



