THE RABBIT 



No animal beside the dog and the cat is better known to 

 childhood and more loved than 'bunny'. To the gardener and 

 orchardist, however, he is ever a scourge; to the hunter, jacks 

 and cottontail often remain the only game of the neighbor- 

 hood. The rabbit is a fearsome little creature since his only 

 means of defense are his fleetness of foot and his keen hearing. 

 If neither fleet-foot nor keen ear save him, his wonderful rate 

 of reproduction may keep him from destruction as a species 

 if not as an individual. Whether as pet, enemy or game, 

 the rabbit lives, whenever possible, close to the habitations of 

 men, loving the briar thickets along the edge of the road, 

 coming forth mainly in the dark of the night in search of food. 



On Being Afraid of Ones Shadow 



The great problem in the life of the wild rabbit is to live 

 long enough to reproduce its kind. Although this takes less 

 than a year not many out of the great numbers born succeed 

 in reaching this age. In spite of its fleetness of foot and its 

 good hearing the rabbit often falls a prey to one or another 

 of many enemies. Man destroys vast numbers; foxes, owls, 

 and weasels beside a host of other enemies take their toll. 

 The rabbit's habit of seeking shelter in holes and burrows 

 results in capture more often than in escape. Not for a 

 moment, asleep or awake, is the rabbit off his guard. The 

 long ears are poised to catch the least sound, the nostrils are 

 ever keen to detect the faintest scent of the enemy. Even 

 in sleep the body rests upon the long hind limbs, ready for 

 the sudden leap. 



Wild rabbits are properly hares, only the domestic animal 

 being a true rabbit. Rabbits and hares differ considerably 

 in their habits, color, size, and the condition in which the 

 young are born, those of the domestic rabbit being much 

 more helpless. It is not likely, however, that common usage 

 will make the necessary distinction between rabbits and hares. 



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