THE RABBIT OR CONY 201 



the does. The two sexes are, however, in this respect so similar that 

 discrepancies are probably due to the disturbing influence of the sexual 

 functions, present through nine months of the year. 



Numbers of rabbits have been weighed by sportsmen and naturalists, 

 who have published details of a few specimens reaching well over 5. 

 But after long experience as an editor of the Field, Harting {Field, 

 17th December 1898, 981, and op. cit. supra) put the average at 3 

 to l\, and could not vouch for any heavier weight from personal 

 experience. Reliable correspondents had, however, sent him notes of 

 several over 4, and of two, apparently wild, of 4^^ and 4^* respec- 

 tively. He believes that every instance of weights exceeding 5 is due 

 to the turning down of domestic animals, as is frequently done in order 

 to increase the size of the wild stock. Simpson writes {Field, 24th 

 December 1898, 1014) very much in agreement with Harting, reporting 

 that having weighed many in October, when they are at their best, 

 none exceeded 2^ or 2^^, paunched, which weight he considers the 

 average, although on good pasture another pound might be added. 

 Owing to the numbers of small, ill-fed specimens sent to the markets 

 from poor warrens, the general average of those handled by big dealers 

 is said by Simpson {pp. cit., 35) not to exceed 2 when paunched. 



At Kilmanock, Co. Wexford, where there is no record of any 

 rabbits having been turned down for many years, in December 1887 

 nineteen totalled about 65®, averaging ■^, the heaviest being almost 4. 

 A large one, specially selected for its size, on ist January 1892 was also 

 under 4. It should be noted that an accidentally emasculated buck 

 would attain a weight much above the average, and such an individual 

 might account for the specially heavy weights occasionally recorded. 



Distinguishing characters: — The size of the Rabbit is quite dis- 

 tinctive. The hind foot, including claws, rarely measures above 

 100 mm., as compared with at least 130 in the hares. The best way 

 to distinguish a quite young one from a leveret of L. europceus is 

 by its grey rather than ochraceous colour. As compared with the 

 Scottish and Irish hares the long tail is characteristic ; this, including 

 the hairs, is usually about equal to, or slightly shorter than, the hind 

 foot, whereas the hind foot of a young hare may be double the length 

 of the tail. 



Apart from its small size, the skull may be distinguished (amongst 

 other characters) by the narrow posterior nares, always narrower than 

 the breadth of the bony palate ; the narrow superciliary processes ; 

 upper incisors with roots not visible through the bone ; and the deep 

 anteriorly thickened zygomata. 



The Rabbit is one of the commonest British mammals, 

 but its habits present many points of interest, vi^hich in some 

 VOL. 11. o 



