THE RABBIT. 215 



authority ; at least, I judge so, from the great deference 

 which all my rabbits showed for their first ancestor, 

 whom I can always easily distinguish by his whiteness, 

 and who, indeed, is the only male of that colour which 

 I have preserved. It was to no purpose the family 

 augmented ; those which, in their turn, became fathers, 

 were still subordinate to him. Whenever they fought, 

 whether on account of their females, or concerning their 

 food, their great progenitor would run to the place of 

 dispute with all speed, as soon as he heard the noise. 

 No sooner did they perceive him, than everything was 

 presently reduced to order : and if he surprised any one 

 of them actually assaulting another, he used to separate 

 him from the rest, and punish him on the spot. An- 

 other proof of his dominion over all his posterity is, that 

 they were accustomed to return at *a whistle, whenever 

 I gave the signal, how distant soever they might be ; 

 this old one immediately put himself at their head ; 

 and though he came first, yet he made them all file off, 

 and enter before him ; nor would he go in till the 

 last." 



It appears that the rabbit can sometimes display 

 a high degree of courage. To quote the words of 

 Mr. Howitt : " I was, on a fine summer's day, sitting 

 in the meadows opposite Tutbury Castle, in Stafford- 



