106 THE BABBIT. 



course, and generally enables them to gain their prize. 

 In vain the frightened animal doubles its ground ; the 

 powerful assailants still pursue ; sometimes it flies to 

 the sheep-cot for protection ; at others, creeps into a 

 furze-bush ; and often starts a fresh hare, and seeks its 

 safety in its form, or bed. Hunting the hare has long 

 been a favourite amusement, as much for exercise, a-s 

 the delicacy of its food. 



THE RABBIT. 



TuouGn this animal bears a striking resemblance to 

 the hare, yet they are entirely of a distinct race ; and, 

 if confined in the same spot, invariably disagree. The 

 rabbit is more prolific than the hare, and has a greater 

 number of young in each breed ; and, as it is more able 

 to defend itself from danger and destruction, the spe- 

 cies abound to a much greater degree. The hare en- 

 tirely depends upon its fleetness for preservation, and 

 the dogs can easily discover its abode ; but the rabbit 

 relies upon concealment for its safety, and makes its ha- 

 bitation far beneath the ground, where it remains com- 

 pletely secure from the attack of the dog, the fox, and 

 the kite, and where it would increase to the destruc- 

 tion of all vegetation, if the ferret did not lessen this 

 prolific breed. 



Though this retreat is both safe and convenient, the 

 animal is not fond of remaining constantly there, but 

 seems to prefer the sunny field and open pasture to the 

 gloomy -caverns it forms in the earth ; and when it has 

 no cause to dread disturbance, brings forth its young 

 in a shallow and detached hole, at a distance from the 

 warren where its companions reside. This bed she 

 carefully lines with fur torn from her own attached 

 breast, and, for the two first days, never .quits the hu- 



