176 OUR BACKDOOR NEIGHBORS 



rather than to remain in a nest whose location 

 was known, even to a friendly naturalist. 

 After they leave the nest they still receive their 

 mother's care, although her brood is scattered 

 quickly. While the mother is very timid, she 

 will respond to the cry of her distressed young. 

 If, however, it has fallen into the hands of a 

 man or the jaws of a dog, she realizes that dis- 

 cretion is the better part of valor and seeks her 

 own safety. 



At times rabbits fight each other desper- 

 ately, and the Naturalist knew cases where 

 they even chewed each other's ears off, though 

 the fighting animals were in confinement, 

 where the unfortunate which was getting the 

 worst of it could not escape from her antago- 

 nist. In the open the trouble is not likely to be 

 so long continued, for there is always the 

 alternative of flight. 



Since the rabbit has no means of defense, it 

 always seems to be on the watch for danger, 

 ready to be off with the slightest alarm. The 

 long ears are sensitive to the slightest sound, 

 and Bunny takes no chances when his suspi- 

 cions are aroused. He always prefers to take 

 his chances in the woods or the open field, 

 rather than to trust to a hole in the ground or 



