382 CHORDATA, 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
CHORDATA—( Continued.) 
VI._LEPUS. 
PHYLUM CHORDATA (p. 402). 
SUB-PHYLUM VERTEBRATA (p. 405). 
Crass MamMALIA (p. 453). 
Lepus cuniculus (the Common Rabbit) is a type of 
the more highly organised and commoner mammals. Its 
general appearance and habits are too well known to necessi- 
tate much description. Of a habit partially terrestrial and 
partially fossorial or burrowing, the rabbit is little specialised 
though one of the most successful and dominant of mam- 
mals. In nature it is gregarious and of high fecundity. In 
these respects, and in the burrowing habits, it differs from 
its close ally the hare (Zefus timidus). Except when run- 
ning it is plantigrade, i.e, places the whole foot upon the 
ground. : 
We can readily recognise a head, neck, body and tail. 
The whole body is coloured a dull greenish-brown which 
External armonises closely with its usual surroundings, 
Pogtueds but the under-surface of the tail is white, the 
* under-surface of the body having a tendency 
to assume the same colour. It has been suggested that the 
white tail, so conspicuous when the rabbit runs or disappears 
down its burrow, is useful as a “ danger signal” to the other 
members of the community that it is time to be moving. 
The mouth is at the anterior end of the head, and is 
bounded by soft lips which cover a single row of teeth. 
The paired external nares open above the mouth, and 
laterally to them are long sensitive bristles or vidvissa. 
Further back are the large paired eyes, facing laterally, 
which are guarded, as in the pigeon, by three eye-lids 
