RABBIT. 115 



teems and to have spread northwards largely by human aid. 

 It is known to have been introduced to Italy from Spain by the 

 Romans, who are usually credited with having brought it to 

 Britain. It is now thought, however, that we are indebted to 

 the Normans for its presence. It was certainly here in the 

 twelfth century. The name Rabbit is from the French, and 

 originally indicated the suckling young ; the adults being known 

 as Conies. 



Although so famous as a digger of extensive underground 

 dwellings, Nature does not appear to have specially built the 

 Rabbit for this purpose ; but where the soil is light the efforts 

 of many generations of associated workers have resulted in a 

 system of burrows both extensive and complicated, with bolt- 

 runs as emergency exits and stop-runs for nursery use. Although 

 it prefers the light sand of the dunes covered with Marram- 

 grass, or a sandy heath overgrown with furze and heather, it 

 will on occasion drive its tunnels into firm loam or dry clay ; it 

 has been known even to burrow deeply into a surface seam of 

 coal. The fore paws are the principal burrowing tools, the 

 loosened earth being thrown far back by the kicking of the 

 hinder feet. Where stones come in the way that cannot be 

 loosened by the paws, they have been known to be removed by 

 the teeth. These tunnels are about six inches in diameter, in- 

 creased locally to a foot to provide passing places. The 

 residential quarters are always blind chambers leading from the 

 main passages. The adult Rabbits do not indulge in bedding 

 materials but rest on the bare soil. The does, however, make 

 beds for their young by denuding their own under parts of fur. 

 These tunnels are frequently made use of by other animals, if 

 necessary, by enlarging the passage to admit their larger 

 bodies. When Rabbit-earths are ferreted they sometimes yield 

 more than Rabbits : a Fox, a Cat, a Stoat, with several Rabbits 

 and Rats, have been driven out of the same earth. 



Where the Rabbit finds the ground too hard or too wet, it 



