HARES, RABBITS, AND FARMERS. 217 



With regard to rabbits, there is much differ- 

 ence of opinion, and I have not the slightest 

 hesitation in saying that the rabbit is blamed 

 more than he deserves. 



The rabbit is essentially a denizen of the 

 wood, save where there is a warren, or earths 

 or burrows in the open, and this happens 

 generally only on park lands, banks, or gravel 

 pits. More especially when it is found 

 increasing rapidly in numbers, the rabbit 

 invariably lives where grass flourishes more 

 abundantly than any other herbage or vegetable 

 matter. A nocturnal rambler, though never 

 far away from home, the rabbit always prefers 

 meadow land to any other, the feeding time 

 being either early in the morning or late at 

 night. He is made very sharp and 'cute by 

 being surrounded with so many enemies from 

 the moment of his birth ; ground and flying 

 vermin make him their prey, so it is not to be 

 wondered at that he not only keeps a keen 

 eye on his retreat, but also chooses feeding 

 grounds in such close proximity to his burrows 

 that he can disappear, as if by magic, at the 



