278 BODENTIA. 



many are shot by sportsmen. The Irish Hare is pro- 

 tected by a close time from April 20th to August 12th. 



Hybrids between this and the Brown Hare have occa- 

 sionally been recorded. 



According to a correspondent of the Field, the average 

 weight of a doe is 7J Ibs., and of a buck 7 Ibs. 



The price of the body of a Varying Hare ranges from 

 Is. 9d. to 2s. The skins are worth about 2s. per dozen, 

 several thousands being collected annually. 



BABBIT. 



Lepus cuniculus. 



French : Lapin. German : Kanin. 



The Eabbit is extremely numerous in this country. 

 In the wild state it is from 10 to 12 inches long. The 

 general colour is greyish-brown, with slightly longer 

 grizzly hairs, the latter, however, being black on the back, 

 and more numerous towards the tail. The belly and 

 throat are whiter, and between the ears it is fawn- 

 coloured. The under fur is blue. The tail is short, 

 black above, and white underneath. The ears are short, 

 about 2^ inches long, and are covered with very short 

 hairs. The whiskers are black. The upper lip is 

 divided. The incisor teeth are long, and set in a 

 circular socket. The toes are short. The skin of the 

 buck is thicker than the doe's. An unusually heavy 

 weight for a wild Eabbit is 5 J Ibs. Rabbits are said to 

 be able to swim well. They run with a short quick step 

 for a few paces, and then enter their burrows, leaving 

 their white tails visible at the end of each run. The 

 incisor teeth sometimes grow erratically to a great 



