140 ANIMALS OF THE 



to lessen the calamity. In fact, rabbits are found 

 to love a warm climate, and to be incapable of 

 bearing the cold of the north ; so that in Sweden 

 they are obliged to be littered in the houses. It 

 is otherwise in all the tropical climates, where 

 they are extremely common, and where they sel- 

 dom burrow, as with us. The English counties 

 that are most noted for these animals, are Lin- 

 colnshire, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire. They 

 delight in grounds of a sandy soil, which are 

 warmer than those of clay, and which also fur- 

 nish a softer and finer pasture. 



The tame rabbits are larger than the wild ones, 

 from their taking more nourishment and using 

 less exercise ; but their flesh is not so good, being 

 more insipid, and softer. In order to improve it, 

 they are chiefly fed upon bran, and are stinted in 

 their water j for, if indulged in too great a plenty 

 of moist food, they are apt, as the feeders express 

 it, to grow rotten. The hair or fur is a very use- 

 ful commodity, and is employed in England for 

 several purposes, as well when the skin is dressed 

 with it on, as when it is pulled off. The skins, 

 especially the white, are used for lining clothes, 

 and are considered as a cheap imitation of ermine. 

 The skin of the male is usually preferred, as being 

 the most lasting, but it is coarser ; that on the 

 belly in either sex, is the best and finest. But 

 the chief use made of rabbits' fur, is in the manu- 

 facture of hats ; it is always mixed, in certain 

 proportions, with the fur of the beaver ; and it is 

 said to give the latter more strength and consist- 

 ence. 



