THE RABBIT. 107 



bitation even to seek the necessary supply of food ; 

 she then only leaves them for a few moments, and care- 

 fully conceals them from the male, by covering the hole 

 with grass and moss ; there she remains for one month, 

 and suckles her young during that time ; she then per- 

 mits the male to see them, who takes them between his 

 paws, and begins licking their eyes and skin. 



The rabbit, though less in form than the hare, gene- 

 rally lives a longer time ; for, as they pass their lives 

 unmolested, they have nothing to interrupt the course 

 of their health ; the flesh of them is therefore allowed 

 to be much fatter, though not so delicate or so fine. 



Although this animal thrives so well in England, it is 

 said originally to be a native of Spain ; and in the isles 

 of the Mediterranean they were once so abundant as to 

 become a nuisance which required the utmost exertion 

 to abate : the colour of its skin greatly varies, but the 

 most common are the white and brown. 



The tame rabbit multiplies as fast as the wild, and 

 brings forth seven or eight at a time ; and, what is very 

 remarkable, they all seem to pay attention to the father 

 of the family from whence the rest of the progeny were 

 derived : if dissentions rise amongst them, his presence 

 makes them calm, and they obey his signal when they 

 are summoned to receive their food : in short, he seems 

 to be as much respected as if, with increased years, he 

 acquired experience and seme. 



The fur of this animal, like that of the hare, is very 

 useful in the manufacture of hats ; and when the skin 

 is dressed, it answers as a substitute for the ermin's. — ■ 

 The Siberian rabbit, like all other animals bred in that 

 country, is remarkable for the length of the hair, which 

 it sheds once a year. Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and 



