84 FAUNA OF SHROPSHIRE. 



the Hare varies considerably, but is generally reddish- 

 grey above, and white beneath, with the tips of the ears 

 and the top of the tail black. The coat consists of two 

 kinds of fur, the outer one long and course, the under- 

 one soft, short, and woolly. The fur is largely used in 

 the manufacture of felt. The feet are covered with fur 

 on the under-side as well as the top, the upper lip is 

 deeply cleft, and the claws are long, curved, and sharp. 

 Leverets are of a brighter red than the adult. Total 

 length, about 2 feet ; average weight, 8 Ibs. 

 RABBIT. Although so similar in appearance and structure 

 L. cuniculas. to the Hare, the Rabbit differs widely 



in habits and other particulars. In 

 the first place while the Hare is solitary, or occurs only 

 in pairs, the Rabbit is always found in colonies often 

 in hundreds together. Then the Rabbit lives in burrows 

 which it digs in the ground, and lastly its young are 

 born naked, blind, and helpless. The colony of Rabbits 

 with the burrows all communicating with one another 

 are known collectively as a " Rabbit Warren." It is 

 unnecessary to speak in detail of the habits of such a 

 well-known animal, but, indeed, few sights are more 

 charming to the naturalist than, seated perfectly still 

 in the midst of a warren, to watch the playful gambols 

 of these pretty little creatures. If unmolested they 

 become very tame, and will not run off into their holes 

 unless approached very closely. In Hawkstone Park 

 there are hundreds nay, thousands of black and silver- 

 grey Rabbits, and they are so used to the passing of 

 strangers that they scarcely notice them at all, and may 

 be seen at any hour of the day scattered like little black 

 dots all over the green sward. The fur of these Rabbits 



