Bligrations of Rabbits. 163 



In this corner, too, the bank being (by and sancl3', 

 there is a large settlement of rabbits, and now and 

 then some of these find their waj' to the orchard and 

 garden along the hedge. Rabbits have their own 

 social laws and customs adapted to the special con- 

 ditions of their way of life. At the breeding season 

 there seems to be a tendency to migi-ate on the part 

 of the younger rabbits from the great ' bur}' ' hitherto 

 their home. Many solitary holes at some distance ai'e 

 then occupied, and the fresh sand thrown out shows 

 that a tenant has entered on possession. In this-way 

 one or two take up their residence more than half-wa}'' 

 down the hedge towards the orchard. Then the doe 

 seems to have a desire to separate herself at a certain 

 period from the rest. She goes out into the mowing 

 grass perhaps thirt}' 3'ards from the ' bury,' and there 

 the young are born in a short hole excavated for 

 the purpose. The young rabbits naturally remain 

 close to their birthplace : they are conducted to the 

 hedge as soon as they are old enough to run about ; 

 and so a fresh colony is formed. As they get larger, 

 or, say, soon after midsummer, they appear to show 

 a tendency to roam ; and b}' the autumn, if left un- 

 disturbed, descendants from the original settlement 

 will have pushed outposts to a considerable distance. 

 These, having been bred near, have little fear of 

 entering the orchard, or even the garden, and next 

 season will rear their offspring close at hand and feed 

 in the enclosure, using the close-cropped hawthorn as 

 a cover. 



Weasels also occasionally come down the hedge 

 into the orchard for the various prey they lind there ; 

 they visit the out-houses and sheds, too, at intervals 



