THE BABBIT. 



and domestic ways and, taking to the woods, become vaga- 

 bonds and rabbit poachers till the end of their days. Terrier 

 dogs will sometimes be bold enough to enter a burrow to give 

 chase to its furry occupant. Not invariably with impunity, 

 however. There have been known cases where from one part 

 of its burrow the rabbit has watched the dog enter at another, 

 and stealthily coming behind, blocked up the passage with 

 earth so effectually, that had it not been dug out, the dog 

 would certainly have starved to death in its dark prison. 



It is generally supposed that the rabbit has a great anti- 

 pathy to the hare, and that a " cross " between the species was 

 not possible. There has, however, been introduced to French 

 tables an animal called the " Hare-rabbit," partaking of the 

 nature, characteristics, and qualifications of both the hare and 

 the rabbit. It is highly spoken of, both as regards flesh and 

 flavour ; and it is said to be the only hybrid which is able to 

 perpetuate its race. We hope that some enterprising indivi- 

 dual win soon secure for English tables what would seem to be 

 a really valuable addition to our other game and poultry 

 dishes ; although it will be rather difficult to exactly assign its 

 proper position, as within or without the meaning of " game," 

 as by law established. Only a few specimens have been seen 

 in England at present; but there is no reason to doubt that 

 our rabbit-fanciers will prove equal to the occasion, and cope 

 successfully in thft kitchen matter, as in all others, with our 

 neighbours across the Channel. 



Where natural >7arrens do not exist, artificial ones are some- 

 times constructed ; but this can, of course, only be done in 

 situations where the soil is favourable. As the author of 

 " British Husbandry," however, observes, that though warrens 

 are found to return a large per centage on the capital em- 

 ployed, the animals are so destructive of fences and growing 

 crops, that the land on which they are maintained appeals in 

 a state of desolation ; and that they are notoriously such bad 

 neighbours, that however profitable they may be, they are con- 

 sidered as a public nuisance, and efforts are constantly made 

 to annihilate them. The expenses attending the maintenance 

 of a warren are very considerable. There are warreners' 

 wages, cost of traps and nets, repair of fences, and the 

 destruction of such vermin as are inimical to the well doing of 

 the stock. 



" In Glamorganshire," says a recent writer, " there is an 

 enclosed warren of 1,600 or 1,700 acres within a wall. It is 



