THE GRAY RABBIT, OR COTTON TAIL 87 



From a study of its food would you judge it to be helpful 

 or injurious to the farmer? Where does it build its nest? 

 Of what material is it built? When is the nest made? 

 How many eggs are laid? When do they hatch? Are 

 the young birds helpless ? What do the young birds eat ? 

 Is there more than one brood of young in a season ? 



D. TOPICS FOR FURTHER STUDY. Write out the chief 

 characteristics of the sparrow. Write a summary of the 

 changes through which the food goes in its passage along 

 the alimentary canal. Write a summary of the circulation 

 of the blood, tracing its route, step by step, beginning at 

 the left auricle. Sum up the processes of respiration, de- 

 scribing the organs concerned. Name and describe the or- 

 gans of excretion, giving the particular function of each. 



XXIV. THE GRAY RABBIT, OR COTTON TAIL 



Materials. Specimens of rabbits, dissecting board, dissecting 

 instruments, alcohol. 



Directions. (The wood rabbit, gray rabbit, or cotton tail, is 

 found North and South and East and West. It can be easily trapped 

 in a box trap, and serves well as a typical mammal. If desired, a 

 cat may be used instead.) 



A. EXTERNAL FEATURES. Note the body covered with 

 hair. Note the thick, soft fur next to the body, with long 

 stiff hairs tipped with black sticking up through the fur. 

 Note the stiff, bristlelike hairs above and below the eyes, 

 and on each side of the mouth. Examine the soles of the 

 feet. Are they smooth or hairy? Note the long ears. 

 How are they held in life? Note the eyes wide apart. 

 Note the cleft upper lip. Are the legs all of the same length ? 

 Which are longer and why? How does a rabbit travel? 



