68 



KEARTONS' NATURE PICTURES 



upon occasion it simply consists of a 

 short tunnel, running at right angles 



ON THE AI.KRT. 



from a much-used burrow. Here its 

 greater depth preserves its helpless 

 occupants from the fox and the badger, 

 but not from the dreaded stoat or weasel. 

 When a nest is made out in an open 

 field the young ones are fed by night, 



and until their eyes are open their 

 mother invariably stops up the mouth 

 of the hole with earth before leaving in 

 the early hours of the morning. I have, 

 however, known an old Rabbit stay 

 with her young in the nesting burrow all 

 day. 



After young Rabbits have left the 

 nesting " stop," and been led to the 

 warren, their mother overlooks their 

 goings and comings until they are able 

 to take care of themselves. If any form 

 of danger should suddenly appear upon 

 the scene whilst they are all away from 

 the warren, feeding in the dusk of even- 

 ing, she warns them by vigorously 

 stamping the ground with her hind feet. 



Although a stoat can generally para- 

 lyse a Rabbit with fear, to the point of 

 abject helplessness, such is the courage 

 of maternal love that a doe has been 

 known to attack the deadly enemy of her 

 species in defence of her helpless young. 



A male Rabbit may be distinguished 

 from a female by the fact that he has 

 a broader, chubbier head and less grace- 

 ful facial outlines. 



