Mammalia. 247 



in the skin, are a number of long, straight hairs with dark 

 tips. They make an admirable covering during the cold of 

 winter. The feet are also covered by hairs, and the inside 

 of the cheek is hair-lined. 



The Rabbit's Mode of Locomotion. It should first be 

 observed that the hind limbs are much larger and stronger 

 than the fore limbs. The back and loins are well-muscled, 

 all fitting the rabbit for running. When it is undis- 

 turbed, and moving about in search of food, it simply 

 hops. But when frightened, it runs swiftly. In running, 

 the chief propelling power is the hind limbs, which, when 

 straightened, are efficient means in pushing the body for- 

 ward. Before each leap the body is doubled, or arched. 

 Then the body straightens by the action of the muscles of 

 the back and the hind limbs. At the end of the long leap 

 the rabbit alights on the front feet, but the long hind legs 

 swing forward, one on each side, straddling the fore legs, 

 so that the foremost tracks, in the set of tracks made at 

 each leap, are made by the hind feet, and the two smaller 

 tracks, which are closer together, are made by the front 

 feet, as follows : 



o hind o 



front o o 



feet o o 



o feet o 



Not unfrequently the rabbit sits erect, resting on the 

 whole length of the hind feet. Ordinarily the rabbit walks 

 or runs on the toes only. The true heel in the rabbit is 

 off the ground in running, and is where we usually cut off 

 the foot when dressing the rabbit. 



Food of the Rabbit. The rabbit is herbivorous, eating 

 clover, grass, etc., with an especial liking for many garden 

 vegetables. It is, therefore, commonly found around gar- 



