224 LEPORID^— ORYCTOLAGUS 



Neither of the foregoing hypotheses takes into account the 

 shortening of the tail which has taken place throughout the 

 whole sub-order of duplicident rodents, and which has, no 

 doubt, been brought about for important structural and 

 physiological reasons. Viewed in this light, the longer tail of 

 the Rabbit seems to be a natural characteristic of an animal 

 less highly specialised than the hares. 



Like hares, rabbits can swim, but have fewer opportunities 

 of taking to the water. In an extreme case, a bewildered 

 bunny has been known, in its confusion, to plunge into the sea. 

 Mr Millais has sketched one swimming,^ and remarks that 

 " The rabbit is the same as the hare . . . the whole of the 

 rump and tail is above water, while the hocks of the hind 

 legs appear above the surface as he takes each fresh stroke." 

 This is not, however, my experience, being rather that the 

 LeporidcB swim easily enough, carrying the whole body under 

 water except the head ; the ears are laid well back, as in rapid 

 running. The animal gives one an impression that it is trying 

 to hide itself by keeping its body low in the water ; and this is 

 undoubtedly the case when it has been long enough immersed 

 to become thoroughly wet. While any of its fur remains dry, 

 it swims in the manner indicated by Mr Millais, and the 

 discrepancy is thus explained. 



Thoroughly terrestrial on all ordinary occasions, rabbits are 

 sometimes found ascending trees to a height of ten or twelve 

 feet, where the boughs or ivy are thick, or the trunk sloping.^ 

 Many such instances have come under notice, and, indeed, the 

 activity of the animal often affords subject for wonder, as when 

 one "runs" up a wall as high as a man's head; and when 

 one escapes from its pursuers by climbing up the ivy on a 

 wall, and jumping clear on the other side. Probably the most 

 striking instance of one "nesting" in a tree is related by Mr 

 G. C. Vassall,* who was shown a litter of young in a hollow 

 branch at a height of about eight feet from the ground. The 



' British Deer and their Horns, 1897, 44. See also editor, Field, 14th May 1S98, 

 712 ; C. L. Eastlake, also H. J. Grierson, Field, 14th January 1899, 62 ; R. Lydekker, 

 The Royal Natural Bistory, 1894, iii., 198 ; and other references. 



2 See Harting, op. cit., 27 ; J. Halifax, Field, 28th January, 1899, 134. The rabbits 

 imported into Australia are reported to have acquired the power of tree-climbing. 



^ Field, 5th June 1909, 983. 



