CHAPTER XXIII 



THE RABBIT 



The Rabbit, Lepus cuniculus, is one of the animals that 



have been introduced into Britain by man. 



Its original home was in the countries at the 

 western end of the Mediterranean. Thence it has spread 

 or been carried by man throughout most of Europe and into 

 various other parts of the world, where its adaptability and 

 great fertility have enabled it to thrive to such an extent 

 that often, as notably in Australia, it has become a serious 

 nuisance. Its habits are well known. It is herbivorous, and 

 will eat a great variety of plants. It is gregarious, and digs 

 for itself burrows into which it retires to sleep or at the 

 approach of danger and to rear its young. On this account 

 it prefers districts where the soil is light and easily worked, 

 though it will live even in wet places if these bear 

 dense vegetation, in which it can form runs instead of 

 burrows. As befits its defencelessness, it is very wary, and 

 its habit of living in societies gives each individual a better 

 chance of receiving warning of the approach of an enemy. 

 Its custom of feeding chiefly at dusk has similar advantages 

 in enabling it to escape observation. It lives seven or eight 

 years and breeds four times, or oftener, in a year, beginning 

 to breed at six months old. As each litter contains from 

 five to eight young, its natural rate of reproduction is 

 enormous and enables it to pay the heavy toll taken by its 

 numerous enemies. It is readily domesticated, and various 

 fancy races have been produced by breeders. 



The rabbit is covered wither, which in the wild race 



is of an inconspicuous, tawny-grey colour save 

 Features. on tne under side of the short, upright tail, 



where it is white. When, on an alarm, the 



animal scampers off to its burrow, the white patch on its 



4 i8 



