496 



MAMMALIA. 



they are born the mother quits the burrow, after having carefully- 

 closed the entrance ; and every day she comes to suckle her 

 family, always renewing the same precautions at her departure. 

 In about twenty days they are able to provide for themselves, 

 and are strong enough to do without protection. These remaia 

 together, and soon make a burrow for themselves, where they 

 live in common. 



ritr. 216.— Wild Kuljbits and Younn 



The Wild Rabbit, also called the Warren Rabbit (Fig. 217), 

 is said to be a native of Africa, from whence it passed into Spain, 

 then into France and Italy, and successively into all the warm 

 and temperate parts of Europe ; it is also found in Asia Minor 

 and in Persia. Everything leads to the belief that this species is 

 the origin of our domestic Rabbit. 



