NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Surprising fecundity. 



most furious combat ensues till one or the other 

 is destroyed. 



The fecundity of the rabbit is still greater than 

 that of the hare; as it breeds seven times in the 

 year, and generally produces seven or eight 

 young ones at a time. On a supposition, there- 

 fore, that this happen regularly for about four 

 years, the progeny from a single pair will amount 

 to almost a million and a half. Their, enemies, 

 however, are so numerous as to prevent any in- 

 crease likely to prove injurious to mankind; for 

 besides their affording food to us, they are also 

 devoured by animals of prey, of almost every 

 description. Yet, notwithstanding this, in the 

 time of the Romans they once proved, such a 

 nuisance in the Balearic islands, that the inhabi- 

 tants actually implored the aid of a military force 

 to exterminate them ; and soon after called in 

 the assistance r>f ferrets,, which more readily con- 

 trived to lessen the calamity. 



The rabbit makes for itself a hole or burrow, 

 where it continues great part of the day, and 

 breeds up its young. Previous to the time of 

 parturition, the female enlarges her apartment, 

 and makes a warm and comfortable bed with a 

 quantity of flix, which she pulls from her own 

 body. During the whole of the first two days 

 she never leaves her young, except when pressed 

 by hunger; and then she eats with surprising 

 quickness, and immediately returns. She always 



