138 THE BABBIT. 



its burrowing habits. But when we speak of num- 

 bers, our mind naturally reverts to Spain, the native 

 'country of the rabbit, where its habits are as pecu 

 liar as its flesh. Without speaking of the prodi- 

 gious quantity of rabbits killed under the denomination 

 of bunnies, it is not exaggeration to describe most of 

 the provinces of the kingdom as swarming with them. 

 The Balearic Islands are celebrated for the number 

 of rabbits they contain. In colder climates they are 

 kept within doors, somewhat like our pet lap-ears. 

 The islands above mentioned were once as infested 

 with these animals, as some German districts 

 have been with the great water-rat ; and in the 

 time of the Romans, they petitioned the emperor for 

 the means of extirpating them. In these hot cli- 

 mates they are unclean animals, their flesh becoming 

 so rank and tainted as to preclude its use as an 

 article of food. We need say nothing more of the 

 fecundity of an animal so well known, than that it 

 will breed six or seven times in the year, and produce 

 four or five young at each -successive breeding. This 

 amazing increase would truly soon over-populate the 

 district, but that, in the wise ordinations of Provi- 

 dence, the rabbit is usually molested by enemies that 

 almost equal its ratio of propagation. When this is 

 not the case, it is found to do but comparatively little 

 injury : and in poor countries, becomes invaluable 

 as an article of food for the lower orders. When 

 this animal lives above ground, its fur becomes more 

 hairy. Lepus cuniculus, Linnceus 



