When startled, this rabbit has the habit 

 of rapidly thumping on the ground with 

 its hind feet, making a dull drumming 

 sound which may be heard for a consid- 

 erable distance. This thumping also is 

 said to be a signal employed during the 

 mating season. 



Several years ago I witnessed a fight 

 between one of these rabbits and a do- 

 mestic cat. The rabbit was a captive, en- 

 closed by a tight fence in a pen about six- 

 teen feet square, in one corner of which 

 was a covered nest containing seven 

 young rabbits. The cat had climbed into 

 the pen and was trying to steal a baby 

 rabbit, when the mother jumped on the 

 cat's back and beat a rapid tatoo thereon 

 with its hind feet, and doubtless with toe 

 nails extended, as the air was filled with 

 flying fur. The cat escaped over the 

 fence, but for many days it went about 

 with a sore back, unprotected by its nor- 

 mal coating of fur. 



The snow-shoe rabbit is generally de- 

 fenseless against its many forest enemies, 



45 



