THE LIFE OF THE RABBIT 221 



After man, the fox must be regarded numbers of rabbits. They enter the 



as the most dangerous enemy of the burrows, and pounce upon sleeping 



rabbit. Foxes are extremely sly in rabbits, or pursue their victims by 



lying in ambush for their prey. They scent in the open. A weasel will follow 



possess splendid scenting power, and a rabbit for half a mile : for these little 



they are fleet in pursuit. When a fox animals can run at a considerable speed, 



steals out of its lair in quest of pro- and they possess a keen olfactory sense, 



vender, it chooses a hunting-ground Stoats and weasel range long distances 



where rabbits abound. Its tactics are in search of rabbits, and explore 



those of the scout ; it is skilled in obser- hedgerows, burrows, and tussocky fields 



vation, and knows the whole art of where rabbits often " lie out " in fine 



stalking. weather. The weasel seizes its prey 



Approaching cautiously through by the neck, and grips tightly with 



gorse, fern, or undergrowth, the fox teeth and claws, while it gnaws a hole 



crawls towards the feeding rabbits on and sucks the blood. It only eats a 



the sward. It will crouch for an hour, small portion of the neck, and some- 



patiently awaiting its opportunity for times leaves the rabbit half dead when 



a spring or a rapid sally. If it can it has made its meal, 



separate a victim from the crowd, and The white underside of the rabbit's 



cut off its retreat to the burrows, a tail, or " scut," serves as a danger 



chase may ensue. A rabbit hunted signal. Watch a number of these 



by a fox runs swiftly for the nearest timid animals feeding at twilight, and 



cover, and endeavours to dodge its you will note that at the first suspicion 



pursuer, or to discover a friendly of danger one of them will raise its 



bury or " clitter " of rocks where it scut and prick its ears. The white 



may escape pursuit. Trusting to its of the scut is the cue for alertness in 



scenting power, the fox steadily works the whole company, and if one rabbit 



on the track of the rabbit, and runs runs to a place of hiding the rest 



it down by persistency rather than by quickly follow its example. Rabbits 



fleetness. Sometimes the fox gives show no fear of sheep and cows, but 



tongue, like a hound on the scent, but they seldom feed near to horses. Colts 



its cry is not musical. It is a sharp sometimes chase rabbits in a spirit of 



yapping sound. play. 



Stoats and weasels destroy large The food of the cony is varied. It 



