222 THE BOOK OF THE OPEN AIR 



will eat bark, green oats and wheat, quarters in the wheat-fields. Until 



grass, turnips, rape, and garden vege- reaping begins they are safe, but the 



tables. In the winter it is frequently first rattle of the reaping machine is 



hard-pressed to find a sufficient diet, the death-knell of many hares and 



and during a time of deep snow and rabbits. As the machine cuts its way, 



severe frost, rabbits lose flesh and the jungle becomes smaller and smaller, 



become emaciated. Snow covers the Alarmed by the noise, some of the 



herbage and the crops ; the rabbits rabbits dash out. But the gunners 



resort to the woods, and keep them- are waiting for them all around the 



selves alive by nibbling the bark of last patch of standing corn, and many 



the ash and the hazel. They will are shot while trying to gain the 



travel at such times to orchards, and hedgerows and the coppices. Dogs are 



eat the bark of young fruit-trees, often also lying in the stubble, and there 



biting deeply into the wood and are sharp chases, and one by one the 



causing serious injury. Where rabbits panic-stricken rabbits are pursued, and 



abound, fruit-growers are compelled seized by the sheep dogs and terriers. 



to protect their trees with a coating But before this September tragedy, 



of tar or thick lime at the base of the the summer life of the rabbit is merry, 



stems. In the more sheltered coverts There is little shooting or none, and 



snow lies less thickly than in the open the warren is quiet. The warm twi- 



fields and on the downs, and here lights tempt the denizens to wander ; 



and there rabbits are able to dig the dews dry quickly, and the banks 



down to moss or grass, and to stave off are warmed by the July sun. This 



starvation in hard weather. You may respite from persecution lasts for a 



see green patches on banks sloping to the few months, and during that time 



south where the rabbits have scratched rabbits are less shy and wary. During 



away the snow. The foot tracks from the winter shooting season the warning 



the warren will show that the hungry cry of the blackbird, the rattle of a 



rabbits become more venturesome as magpie, or the scream of a jay apprises 



the severity of the weather increases, the rabbits that an enemy is afoot, and 



They find their way to gardens and to ears and scuts proclaim their alarm, 



hayricks close to the farm-houses. It has been said that rabbits cannot 



When the corn is tall it affords a safe climb trees, but this is not quite 



jungle for rabbits, and they take up accurate. A rabbit will often ascend 



