FRIENDS OR FOES? 199 



Chalk-hills or sandy heaths, hedgerows or copse 

 tangle, alike suit the rabbit when he has been 

 allowed to rest for a few years. On a large estate, 

 small farms have been ruined, or rather the farmers 

 have, from the crops being eaten up by them : this 

 took place before the rabbits were in such demand 

 as a food-supply. 



The skins are quite an article of value, and yet 

 some years ago you might have had a cartload of 

 rabbits at the rate of three for a shilling — from 

 some estates at least. But that is a thing of the 

 past, when people did not care to eat them ; they 

 are now eagerly sought for. 



The most deadly of all the rabbit's foes is the 

 stoat, which will hunt him like a dog; no matter 

 how he turns and winds about, his pursuer is sure 

 to come on him and kill him at last. 



As pets, wild rabbits are most amusing. One that 

 I owned before he could see plainly — for they are 

 born with their eyes closed — was brought up on new 

 milk till his teeth came. He quite made one of the 

 family, and would jump on our knees, if we were 

 sitting down, and play all manner of tricks to attract 

 notice. No matter where one went, he would follow, 



