THE RABBIT. 



THIS little animal belongs to the same genus as the hare ; 

 but notwithstanding the general resemblance which exists 

 between them : their habits and propensities, as well as 

 their fecundity, are very different ; and among other dis- 

 tinguishing characteristics, they seem to have a natural 

 aversion for each other. The Rabbit came originally from 

 Africa and Spain, but it has been domesticated in many 

 countries. The domestic animals are of various colors, 

 but the wild are invariably of a greyish brown ; and they 

 are usually about fifteen inches in length. In warm cli- 

 mates, the general duration of their life is nine or ten years ; 

 but in cold climates, it can only be reared in houses. It is 

 common, however, in the temperate parts of Europe and 

 America. When these creatures confine themselves to un- 

 cultivated portions of land, they may be allowed to increase 

 in numbers ; but they are great enemies of the farmer and 

 gardener, if permitted to find their way among corn and 

 plants. The damage they do in plantations of young trees, 

 as well as cornfields, is sometimes very extensive. In 

 Spain, they had at one time become so numerous, and 

 were found so destructive to' vegetation, that the inhabitants 

 found it necessary to introduce ferrets from Africa, in order 

 to diminish their numbers. 



The fecundity of the Rabbit is astonishing, and exhibits 



