THE STUDY OF THE RABBIT. 55 



cruel of all, because he kills them for mere sport and 

 not to satisfy his hunger) chases them with hounds. 

 Appropriate here will be a story illustrating the occa- 

 sional sagacity of the rabbit in outwitting the hounds, 

 or a story from Nights with Uncle Remus. See also A 

 Life of Fear in Burroughs's Riverby. 



Their food and the damage they do. Often kill young 

 trees by gnawing the bark. When abundant, are very 

 destructive to vegetation, sometimes making it impossi- 

 ble to raise crops. In some countries, such as Australia, 

 where they were introduced as pets and have multi- 

 plied enormously, great hunts, with hundreds of men, 

 are organized, and the rabbits are killed by thousands. 



Summary. Have several pupils summarize the points 

 discussed, emphasizing their burrows, warrens, and home 

 life. 



STEP 3. The home of the hare (usually called the 

 " wild rabbit ") of our country. 



Any of the pupils who have lived in the country or 

 have passed much time in the woods can probably tell 

 something about the " wild rabbit." Depend on them 

 as much as possible. 



How distinguished from rabbit. The hare always has 

 longer ears, longer than the head; in the rabbit the 

 ears are shorter than the head. The common species 

 are considerably darker in color than the rabbit, at least 

 in summer, the more common one being yellowish 

 brown in summer and gray in winter (hence called by 

 the early settlers "gray rabbit," a name still used); 

 another reddish brown in summer and whitish in winter 



