BUNNY COTTONTAIL 



173 



all animal mental processes are instinctive, and 

 that there is no understanding of the objects 

 sought, or deliberation as to methods to be em- 

 ployed. The out-of-door naturalist, on the 

 other hand, will say that the manifestation of 

 ability to devise means to accomplish ends is 

 evidence of some degree of reasoning power, 

 and this the rabbit seems able to do. 



Since her offspring are born helpless and 

 blind, Mother Cottontail depends upon her 

 skill in hiding them to keep them from danger. 

 She makes a little hollow in the earth, not 

 much larger than a robin's nest, and lines it 

 with her own fur. In this warm nest she 

 places her young and covers them very clev- 

 erly. Even when the Naturalist knew the 

 location of her nest, he had to look very closely 

 to find it, for there was no outward 

 indication of its presence. She 

 would cover it with grass or ^gg| 

 leaves exactly like the sur- 

 roundings, and, although 

 there were dozens of 

 them about, it was only 

 rarely that the Natu- 

 ralist or his boys 

 were able to find 



Baby Cottontail after 

 leaving the nest. 



