THE PIKAS. H9 



clay it is very local in its distribution north of the Alps, and is not found at all in eastern and 

 northern Europe. Tn Australia it has proved to be a veritable scourge. 



In its habits the Rabbit differs from the Hare more than in its form and structure. Instead of 

 contenting itself with a shallow depression as a resting-place on the surface of the ground, it digs deep 

 holes ill the ground, into which it may retire to sleep or at the approach of danger. It prefers light 

 sandy soils for its residence, as these present great facilities for burrowing, and wherever particularly 

 favourable conditions exist the Rabbits are to be found living together in very large societies. Furzy 

 heaths are favourite places with them, as the ground is easily worked, and the furze bushes not only 

 serve as a protection to the burrows, but furnish the Rabbit with an abundant supply of food, the 

 young shoots being eaten off as high as the animals can reach when standing on their hind feet. In 

 wet moors the Rabbits avoid burrowing, and live in runs and galleries formed in the matted heather 

 and long herbage. Mr. Bell says that in more than one instance he has known a family to take 

 possession of a hollow tree, ascending its inclined and decayed trunk for some distance. 



Like the Hare, the Rabbit is generally quiet during the day, although it will not unfrequently be 

 abroad at all hours. The evening, however, is its principal time for activity, and then the inhabitants 

 of the warren may be seen playing about near their abodes, or wandering to greater distances in search 

 of the green vegetables on which they feed. The moment there is the smallest suspicion of danger, 

 the whole company scamper off at once to seek safety in their burrows. As they go, their white tails 

 are the most conspicuous objects to be seen, and the spectacle of some hundreds of them rushing along 

 at full speed, vanishing one after the other down the burrows, is lively and amusing enough. 



The Rabbit begins breeding at six months old, and has several litters in each year. The young 

 are usually from five to eight in number, sometimes even more ; they are born blind and naked, and are 

 produced in a separate burrow which the female digs for their reception, and lines with fur pulled from 

 her own body. This brood-chamber has usually only a single entrance, and this the mother closes with 

 earth after visiting and suckling her yoiing family, which she is said to do only at night. 



"When domesticated, the Rabbit, as is well known, differs materially from its wild state. It is 

 larger, and its colours are usually white, black, brown, or fawn colour, sometimes alone, sometimes 

 mixed in patches. Albinoes are common, and form a permanent race. The Angora Rabbit, which is 

 usually albino, has the hairs very long ; and the so-called " fancy Rabbits " have the ears more or less 

 pendent at the sides of the head, and often so long as to touch the ground. 



A third British species is the MOUNTAIN HARE (Lepus variabilis), or Northern Hare, an inhabi- 

 tant of all the northern parts of both hemispheres, which occurs in most parts of Scotland, and in 

 Ireland, where, indeed, it takes the place of the common Hare. In its summer coat it is of a light 

 fulvous grey colour, and is further distinguished from the common Hare by the shortness of the ears 

 and tail, the former being shorter than the head, and the latter little more than half its length. In 

 cold climates this animal becomes pure white in the winter. This Hare is absent from Central 

 Europe, but reappears on the chain of the Alps. 



It will be unnecessary to enter into details with regard to the other species of this family, 

 all of which more or less resemble those just described, both in appearance and habits. They 

 are distributed over nearly the whole world except the Australian region, but they are most 

 numerous in Ncrth America, where a great many species have been described, which are reduced 

 by Mr. Allen to twelve. Four of these, however, present well-marked local races, which double 

 the number of recognised permanent forms. 



FAMILY XVIIL LAGOMYIDJE (PIKAS;. 



In many respects the Pikas closely resemble the Hares, but they are distinguished by having 

 only five molars on each side in each jaw, a depressed skull, with contracted frontal bones desti- 

 tute of the wing-like process seen in the Hares, complete clavicles, short ears, limbs nearly 

 equal in length, and no tail visible externally. They are much smaller than any of the Leporidse, 

 the largest being no larger than a Guinea-pig, to which the animals have some resemblance; 

 while in their habits they somewhat resemble the Marmots. When feeding they often produce a 

 chirping or whistling noise, whence the name of Piping Hares, or Calling Hares, has been applied 

 to them. Ten or a dozen supposed species of these animals have been described, most of them 

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