BRITISH MAMMALS 



generated. The same holds good when a Stoat is in hot 



pursuit, as the carnivorous beast is one of the Rabbit's 



most dreaded enemies. But, in this case, it is a neck- 



and-neck race, with, perhaps, the odds on the Stoat 



winning. As the rodent is pounced upon, it utters a 



piteous scream most distressing to hear, but a merciful 



Providence has decreed that it is soon over. Probably 



the weakest perish and the strongest survive, so as to be 



better able to carry on the destiny of the race. Bulk 



counts for little in the struggle, as witness the giant 



creatures of past ages long since blotted out of existence. 



The prize is won by the swift and sure, though in human 



life these prizes are, to say the least, often unfairly 



distributed. But we are not concerned with human 



problems here, and must restrict our observations to the 



creatures of the wild. The general form and colour 



of the Rabbit is so familiar that it need not be described, 



except to point out that there is no black tip to the ears, 



but that there is a prominent white patch on the under 



part of the tail, which is said to serve as a danger signal. 



It can both swim and climb, but, unless pressed, is 



unlikely to do more than bolt to cover. It sits extremely 



close, especially among bracken and other woodland 



growth, where it is so admirably protected, and only 



bolts when necessity demands it. A dog will scent a 



Rabbit and stand pointing towards it, but the rodent 



refuses to budge until the word of command is given to 



man's trusty friend to search cover. Then it is a case of 



the best man wins 1 

 52 



