CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 1. EODENTIA. 349 



numbers of them by spreading nets near the mouths of the burrows and sending in ferrets to 

 drive the animals out. The nests of the females, as we have stated, are made of fur from her own 

 body, and dried leaves. 



The breeding of tame rabbits, with a view to the supplying of markets, is carried on in various 

 parts of Europe upon a large scale. In France, the subject is treated as a branch of political 

 economy, and in this point of view the prolificness of the rabbit has been the theme of special 

 notice. A noted author, M. Despouys, in a pamphlet recently issued, sought to demonstrate 

 that an investment of five hundred francs may, by proper management, be made to yield an an- 

 nual income of twenty thousand francs.* The number of rabbits furnished to the Paris markets 

 amounts annually to several hundreds of thousands. 



Of the domestic rabbit there are several breeds, one of which, the Lopeared Rabbit, — though it 

 seems really to be a deformity, — is so much esteemed that one will often sell in Europe for a hun- 

 dred dollars; a hundred and fifty dollars has indeed been offered for a favorite specimen. There 

 has been some dispute as to the origin of the domestic rabbits, but as these soon become wild 

 when left at liberty, and finally return to the manners and appearance of the wild rabbits, there 

 is no difficulty in coming to the conclusion that the latter are in fact the progenitors of the do- 

 mestic breeds. 



Besides these varieties of the Common Babbit, there are several kinds which claim to be dis- 

 tinct species: such are the Sinai Rabbit, L, Sina'icus, found in Arabia Petrea, near Mount Sinai; 

 the Algerine Rabbit; the Big-tailed Rabbit, L. crassicaudatus, of the Cape of Good Hope, and 

 the L. brachyurus, found in Japan. Gervais also describes a species which is called the Rough 

 Rabbit, L. kispidus, whose fur is rough to the touch; it is spotted with black on a ground of 

 brown above, growing paler and passing into white below. Some peculiarities of structure have 

 led to the arrangement of this species as a sub-genus, under the title Carpolagus. 



Genus LAGOMYS: Lagomys. — These animals, of which there are several species, are smaller 

 han the hares and rabbits, and have some resemblance to the Guinea-pig. They live in burrows, 

 'eed on vegetable substances, lay up provisions for the winter, and have a strong voice resembling 

 hat of the quail. The term lagomys signifies hare-mouse, and is appropriate to the curious little 

 tnimals which it designates. They constitute the sub-family of Lagomina, of some authors, having 

 he muzzle acute, the ears short and somewhat rounded, the soles of the feet hairy, the claws 

 alcular, and no tail. 



The Pika, or Calling Hare, the Alpine Lagomys, or Rat Hare, L. pusillus, is the Ground 

 Tare of the Russians, and the Barking Mouse of the Tartars; it has the head longer than usual 

 ith hares, and thickly covered with fur, even to the tip of the nose ; numerous hairs in the 

 hiskers; ears not long but rounded; legs very short; soles furred beneath: its whole coat very 

 ►ft, long, and smooth, with a thick, long, fine down beneath of a brownish lead-color; the hairs 

 f the same color, toward the ends of a light gray, and tipt with black; the lower part of the body 



* M. Bouscaren, of the Society of Agriculture of l'Herault, has treated the subject more rationally and with a 

 inuteness of detail which enters alike into the moral as well as the physical well-being of the rabbit community, 

 le following is the result of his calculations : 

 Twenty-four females may furnish at five births, annually, of six each, to speak within 



bounds, 720, which, at one franc and a quarter each, will yield 900 francs. 



From this deduct rent and care of the premises 100 



Care of the rabbits, making a suitable allowance for the manure 100 



Rent of twenty ares (one are being 120 square yards) of land for raising barley, 



vetches, beets, &.C 50 



One thousand pounds oil-cake 50 



Grape seeds and other seeds .• 50 



Miscellaneous expenses 50 ■ 400 



i Net profits ' » 500 francs. 



'he Penny Cyclopedia says : " The fertility of the rabbit may be imagined when it is remembered that it will 



;in to breed at the age of six months, and produce several broods in a year, generally from five to seven or eight 



: time." Pennant says : " Rabbits will breed seven times a year, and bring eight young ones each time. On a sup- 



i ition that this happens regularly during four years, their numbers will amount to one million two hundred and 



Centy-four thousand eight hundred and forty." We have intimated, however, that this is merely theoretical. 



