RABBIT. 345 



the long and matted heather and herbage. In more than 

 one instance we have known a family to take possession 

 of a hollow tree and ascend its inclined and decayed trunk 

 for some distance. 



A Rabbit-warren presents towards evening a curious 

 and not uninteresting spectacle. The ground everywhere 

 pierced with deep and tortuous holes, the absence of all 

 esculent vegetation around it, and the playful gambols 

 and rapid retreat of the inhabitants, as they either sport 

 in security or fly from the approach of danger, are cir- 

 cumstances which at once indicate the peculiar habits of 

 the species and present a lively and amusing scene. 



The Rabbit begins to breed at the age of six months, 

 and has several litters in the year, during winter as well 

 as in summer. From five to seven or eight young are 

 brought forth at a time, and we have known an instance in 

 which the number amounted to eleven. They are born 

 blind and nearly naked, whereas we have seen that those 

 of the Hare are covered with fur and have the eyes open 

 at birth an admirable provision for the comparatively 

 unprotected situation in which the latter little creatures 

 are brought forth. When the female Rabbit is about to 

 give birth to her young, she forms a separate burrow, at 

 the bottom of which she makes a warm nest of fur plucked 

 from her own body; this breeding-burrow has seldom 

 more than one entrance, whereas the ordinary residence 

 has always a postern gate for escape. The mother covers 

 over this single entrance with earth, and visits her offspring 

 only under cover of the night. It is evident from the 

 above facts that the multiplication of this species is ex- 

 tremely rapid ; so much so that it would soon become an 

 intolerable scourge to the agriculturist if its numbers 

 were not kept down by its natural enemies. Now that 

 our native beasts and birds ol prey are so greatly reduced 



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