324 FARMING FOR LADIES, [chap, xti 



at the end of which she forms a chamber for 

 her brood, which she tends and suckles with 

 true parental care, never leaving them, unless 

 for the search of food, during six weeks ; at 1 

 the expiration of which, she usually weans i 

 them. When she quits the nest, even for only \ 

 a momentary absence, she always stops up its ' 

 outer hole with earth, to prevent the entrance 

 of the " buck," or male : which, obeying, as it 

 would seem, an instinct of his nature, would, 

 if admitted, destroy a considerable portion ■! 

 of the young progeny at that helpless age ; j 

 though, when older, he will fondle and caress r! 

 them. 



Their form, and many of their habits, so 

 much resemble those of the hare, that they 

 might be supposed to be of the same species, 

 and attempts have been made, by rearing 

 them together, to procure a breed of hybrids ; 

 but these trials have not succeeded, for the 

 animals appear to entertain an antipathy to 

 each other, and a rabbit will live upon more 

 friendly terms with a cat than a hare. The 

 failure is, however, not to be regretted, for 

 the cross could not have much improved 

 either stock ; and even if it had, as mules 



