214 BRITISH QUADRUPEDS. 



gambols of its little tenants, as they play in security, or 

 their rapid flight from any cause of alarm, are not a 

 little amusing. They commonly remain in their bur- 

 rows during the day, and come forth about twilight 

 to feed. In doing so, they are not unfrequently mis- 

 chievous, eating the bark of young trees, and the corn 

 when first springing up. 



The care with which the rabbit provides for her 

 young is very remarkable. Not only does she make a 

 nest of the softest hay, from which she carefully removes 

 all the harder portions, but she actually strips the fur, 

 or down, from her own breast, that it may be made still 

 more agreeable. At first she covers up her young with 

 the same materials, in order to keep them warm : un- 

 covering them only when it is necessary. This provision 

 is, moreover, nicely adapted to the state of the weather, 

 and the strength of her progeny, and is gradually di- 

 minished as they become more robust. 



A gentleman, who had amused himself with raising 

 rabbits for many years, says : " I began with only one 

 male and one female, the former white, the latter grey ; 

 and of their produce, which was very numerous, the 

 greatest part were grey, a good number of them white, 

 and of a mixed colour, and some few black. These 

 animals seem to have a great respect for paternal 



