NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



BABBIT WITH DEFORMED TEETH, p. 19 It often happens 

 that rabbits are shot with teeth deformed in the manner repre- 

 sented in the engraving on the next page. It will be observed 

 that the two lower teeth project upwards and forwards so as 

 to come almost on a level with the top of the rabbit's iiose. 

 In order to understand how this deformity came about, the reader 

 should examine the teeth of the next rabbit sent up to table. 

 He will find that the tips are sharp and chisel-like, and that the 



MAN TRAPS. 



lower end of the tooth is filled with a gelatinous substance. 

 The rabbit, by continual gnawing, wears away the tips of these 

 rodent teeth ; as the tooth is continuously growing, the soft pulp 

 at the root gradually hardens itself into true tooth structure. 

 The four rodent teeth are thus regularly wearing each other 

 down, and, as they all grow at a similar rate, they keep each 

 other level. 



Should any one of the four teeth get injured or knocked out 

 VOL. II. K 



