THE STUDY OF THE RABBIT. 65 



or sitting on hind legs. How does the cleft upper lip 

 aid them ? How do they bite off the cabbage ? Note 

 carefully number and character (chisel-like sharpness) of 

 front or incisor teeth in each jaw. The rabbit moves his 

 lower jaw up and down and sideways, and from front 

 to back, when he chews, much as the child moves his 

 jaw. It is difficult to see the back or grinding teeth. 

 If necessary, tell children that the rabbits have five or 

 six grinding teeth in each half of each jaw. Compare 

 with food and way of eating of cat or dog. Does the 

 cat or dog have any teeth which rabbit does not have ? 

 (Canine or dog teeth.) 



Grnawing. Perhaps pupils have already observed the 

 rabbit gnawing the woodwork of his cage or home, or 

 have discovered evidences of his gnawing power. Try 

 to ascertain exactly how they do it, how they use their 

 teeth in the process, and how the teeth are fitted for 

 gnawing. They may gnaw the carrots. 



Adaptation. How the rabbit is fitted for its food and 

 way of eating. Reason for the long, chisel-shaped, sharp 

 front teeth. Tell the children that the back of each 

 incisor tooth is softer (composed of dentine) and wears 

 away more rapidly than the front part (covered with 

 enamel) ; this keeps them always sharp. As fast as 

 they wear away they grow out from the jaw, so that 

 their length usually remains about the same. Some- 

 times th%y grow more rapidly than they wear away; 

 then the rabbit has a hard time, and may in time die, 

 because his teeth become so long he cannot eat. Use 

 of the cleft upper lip. Advantage of having the lower 



