24 8 GNAWING ANIMALS 



the spotlessness of its white coat far more perfectly than 

 when it is cooped up in a hutch. 



The Flemish Giant will weigh anything up to eighteen 

 pounds. It has a big head, a large dewlap and sturdy legs. 

 The fur, soft and standing out, gives the rabbit an appearance 

 larger than it really is. Usually the colour is steel grey 

 interspersed with black-tipped hairs. 



PIKA. 



The Pikas form the second family of the Double-toothed 

 Rodents. They are often called tailless- hares. One species 

 is found in North America, and several inhabit the Himalaya 

 and neighbouring regions ; but the best known is the Sibe- 

 rian Pika (Lagomys alpinus), which extends into Eastern 

 Europe. It is rather a pretty little Rodent, smaller than a 

 rabbit. In habits it much resembles the marmot, living in 

 burrows, the entrances to which may sometimes be counted 

 by the thousand. When only in pairs or small parties they 

 sometimes occupy the crevices of rocks. Inhabiting ele- 

 vated, cold, and arid regions, which are under deep snow 

 for several months in the year, the Pika does not hibernate, 

 but stores up food for winter use. The animal is not on the 

 list of the Siberian fur-hunters, who content themselves with 

 using the creature's winter store of dried grasses, roots, &c., 

 as provender for their horses. The Pika, however, is not 

 short of enemies, for various wild animals of the cat and 

 dog tribes, together with the eagle, falcon, and owl, cease- 

 lessly prey upon it. 



