THE RABBIT. 247 



from its foes, passing its days in peaceful security, 

 it would probably live many years longer than if 

 it were eternally but unsuccessfully chivied by 

 stoats and lurchers. Since normally wild rabbits 

 live less strenuous lives than hares, they live 

 proportionately longer. I should set down the 

 average life of the normal wild rabbit at eight 

 years ; senile decay generally sets in rapidly at 

 the end of the ninth year, and few of them live 

 to reach eleven. 



WEIGHT. 



The weight of flourishing adults is generally 

 between 3 and 3^ Ib. The first figure may be 

 taken as the average; 3^ Ib. is a good market 

 rabbit, though during favourable seasons 4 Ib. is 

 not an uncommon weight in some localities. 

 Contrary to what obtains among hares, the bucks 

 are generally the heavier. 



