MOONLIGHT AND DAYBREAK 229 



young cobs, in their speckled plumage, are far 

 more daring than the old birds, and, if possible, 

 more voracious ; that is, indeed, saying some- 

 thing. 



The climbing power of the rabbit, like that 

 of two very different creatures, the toad and 

 the frog, is something considerable. It looks 

 uncanny to see rabbits dotting about on the 

 tops of weed-covered piles, where you would 

 expect to see only gulls ; but there they are, 

 and there they will be at daybreak. 



Grouse are credited with doing a lot of harm 

 to the corn after it is cut and shocked ; but the 

 rabbit helps to the best of his ability. He 

 will climb the shocks, and sit up like a squirrel 

 to eat his fill of corn, wheat, oats, or of barley, 

 as the case may be. As to the distance, only 

 those who have seen his work, and caught him 

 at it, can tell of his feats ; he will climb up a 

 large holly in hard weather. Facts are not 

 always pleasant to meet with, but they are 

 always stubborn things to question. When 

 there is occasion for them to do so, the hare 

 and the rabbit can, and do, swim well. 



Daybreak in the heart of the woodlands. 

 So light has it been throughout the warm 

 night that the first rays of the dawn have not 



