RABBIT 



Saxon Kings of Mercia. It is a wonderful paradise for 



bird and plant life, as well as a prolific hunting ground 



for the entomologist. It serves as a sort of natural 



catchpit between two ridges of ground, with a small 



stream traversing almost its whole area. There is a 



variety of soil, such as peat, chalk, clay and gravel. 



Consequently, there is marsh land and dry land, and 



because of all these elements, the animal and plant life 



are varied and plentiful. But, and here is the point of 



our story, the building of a new town close to the borders 



of this ancient common has resulted in a diminution of 



certain forms of wild Ufe. The Pheasant still lingers 



there, and there is an abundance of small bird Ufe, but 



we are told that in days gone by it was no uncommon 



thing to bag a thousand Rabbits in one day's shoot, 



whereas to-day this animal rarely greets us as we daily 



renew acquaintance with this rare belt of rural England. 



That the Rabbit is capable of travelling at a good speed 



may best be witnessed when the last cut is being made in 



a harvest field as the poor, timorous Bunnies take cover 



until almost the last moment, when they must perforce 



bolt for dear life. If the Rabbit gets away, well and 



good, but if, as so frequently happens, there are men, 



women and children with an array of mongrel dogs, all 



ready to pounce upon the frightened prisoner, a sickening 



sight follows, as to which we do not propose harrowing 



the reader's feelings. Suffice it to say that, under these 



conditions, the Rabbit's powers of movement are put to 



the severest test, and it is amazing the speed that is 



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