130 REMIXISCEXCES OF A SPORTSMAX. 



Eabbits breed at about six months old, aud usuall}' 

 bear seven times annually, if the winter has been mild. 

 They generally have about five young ones at a time, 

 which shows plainly how soon an estate would be over- 

 stocked were they not constantly kept down by shooting 

 and trapping, ferreting, and by their various enemies, 

 both of the feathered and four-footed tribes, amongst 

 the latter particularly Eeynard.* 



The buck rabbits in the Avarrens will kill the young 

 ones if they can get at them ; but, to prevent this, the 

 does cover their stocks or nests with gravel or earth, 

 which they close so artificially with the hinder part of 

 their bodies, that it is difficult to find them out. The 

 same plan is adopted when they have their burrows in 

 hedge-rows. The female frequently makes a hole in a 

 ploughed field, which is termed a rabbit stop ; a warm 

 nest is made from the fur pulled off from her breast, 

 and when she quits her stop she carefully covers over 

 the mouth of the burrow, and this is performed with 

 such skill, that it is no easy matter to discover the 

 opening. They never suckle their young at any other 

 time than early in the morning and late at night, and 



* A eomplaiut was made to the Belgian Chamber of Representatives 

 from the inhabitants of La Hiilpe, praj'ing the Government to adopt 

 some measure for the destruction of the rabbits in the Forest of Soignes, 

 belonging to the State, which are represented to be so numerous as to 

 cause considerable injury to the persons having property in the neigh- 

 bourhood. The ]Minister of Finance said that applications had been 

 already made on the subject, and that Government woxild take measures 

 to prevent the increase of the evil complained of. The breeding of 

 rabbits has, during the last five or six years, assumed a great extension 

 in Belgium. Every week not fewer than 50,000 are sent to England 

 from Ghent, Eccloo, Thielt, &c. In Ghent also an extensive business is 

 done in preparing rabbit-skins for exportation to France, Russia, and 

 America. 



