2 14 Handbook of Nature-Study 



garden last summer Molly was very considerate. She carefully pulled 

 all the grass out of the garden-cress bed, leaving the salad for our enjoy- 

 ment. In winter, the long, gnawing teeth of the cotton-tail are some- 

 times used to the damage of fruit trees and nursery stock since the rabbits 

 are obhged to feed upon bark in order to keep alive. 



The long, strong hind legs and the long ears tell the whole bunny 

 story. Ears to hear the approach of the enemy, and legs to propel the 

 listener by long jumps to a safe retreat. The attitude of the ears is a good 

 indication of the bunny's state of mind; if they are set back to back and 

 directed backward, they indicate placidity, but a placidity that is always 

 on guard; if lifted straight up they signify attention and anxiety; if one 

 is bent forward and the other backward the meaning is: "Now just 

 where did that sound come from?" When running or when resting in the 

 form, the ears are laid back along the neck. When the cotton-tail stands 

 up on its haunches with both ears erect, it looks very tall indeed. 



Not only are the ears always alert, but also the nose; the nostrils are 

 partially covered and in order to be always sure of getting every scent 

 they wabble constantly, the split upper lip aiding in this performance; 

 when the rabbit is trying to get a scent it moves its head up and down in a 

 sagacious, apprehensive manner. 



The rabbit has an upper and lower pair of incisors like other rodents, 

 but on the upper jaw there is a short incisor on each side of the large 

 teeth; these are of no use now but are inherited from some ancestor which 

 found them useful. There are at the back of each side of the upper jaw 

 six grinding teeth, and five on each side of the lower jaw. The split 

 upper lip allows the free use of the upper incisors. The incisors are not 

 only used for taking the bark from trees, but also for cutting grass and 

 other food. The rabbit has a funny way of taking a stem of grass or 

 clover at the end and with much wabbling of lips, finally taking it in, 

 meanwhile chewing it with a sidewise motion of the jaws. The rabbits' 

 whiskers are valuable as feelers, and are always kept on the qui vive for 

 impressions; when two cotton-tails meet each other amicably, they rub 

 whiskers together. The eyes are large and dark and placed on the bulge 

 at the side of the head, so as to command the view both ways. Probably 

 a cotton-tail winks, but I never caught one in the act. 



The strong hind legs of the rabbit enable it to make prodigious jumps, 

 of eight feet or more; this is a valuable asset to an animal that escapes 

 its enemies by running. The front feet are short and cannot be turned 

 inward like those of the squirrel, to hold food. There are five toes on the 

 front feet, and four on the hind feet; the hair on the bottom of the feet is 

 a protecti'on, much needed by an animal which sits for long periods upon 

 the snow. When sleeping, the front paws are folded under and the rabbit 

 rests on the entire hind foot, with the knee bent, ready for a spring at the 

 slightest alarm; when awake, it rests on the hind feet and front toes; and 

 when it wishes to see if the coast is clear, it rises on its hind feet, with 

 front paws drooping. 



The cotton-tail has a color well calculated to protect it from observa- 

 tion; it is brownish -gray on the back and a little lighter along the sides, 

 grayish under the chin and whitish below; the ears are edged with black, 

 and the tail when raised shows a large, white fluff at the rear. The general 

 color of the rabbit fits in with natural surroundings; since the cotton-tail 

 often escapes its enemies by "freezing," this color makes the scheme work 



