116 VERTEBRATES 



brown, black, and mouse-color. The black are the most scarce; 

 the brown, white, and mouse-color are in greater plenty. Most 

 of the wild rabbits are of a brown, and it is the color which pre- 

 vails among the species ; for in every nest of rabbits, whether the 

 parent be black or white, there are some brown ones found of the 

 aumber. But, in England, there are many warrens stocked with 

 the mouse-colored kinds, which, some say, came originally from 

 Ui island in the river Humber, and which still continue their 

 »rigin'al color, after a great number of successive generations. A 

 gentleman, who bred up tame rabbits for his amusement, gives 



thfc following account of their production : " I began," says he, 

 " by having but one male and female only ; the male was entirely 

 white, and the female brown ; but in their posterity the number 

 of the brown by far exceeded those of any other color : there were 

 some white, some parti-colored, and some black. It is surprising 

 how much the descendants were submissive and obedient to their 

 common parent; he was easily distinguished from the rest by his 

 superior whiteness ; and however numerous the other males were, 

 this kept them all in subjection. Whenever they quarrelled among 

 each other, either for their females or provisions, as soon as he 

 heard the noise he ran up to them with all despatch, and, upon 

 his appearance, all was instantly reduced to peace and order. If 



