MAMMALS 309 



olfactory lobes. Posterior to the cerebrum is the cerebellum 

 composed of one centrally placed bbe flanked by lateral 

 ones. Beneath the cerebellum and posterior to it is the 

 enlarged end of the spinal cord, the medulla oblcngata. 

 The spinal cord extends through its channel in the back- 

 bone and gives off nerves to different parts of the body. 



Reproduction and development. — The rabbit multipjies 

 very rapidly. Several Utters, each containing five or six 

 or even more individuals, are produced in a season, and were 

 it not for the fact that so many of the offspring die, these 

 .animals would overrun this country. The young are born 

 alive and are nourished by the mother rabbit for a time on 

 milk secreted bythe milk, or mammary glands. These glands 

 producing milk for the nourishment of the young by the 

 mother is characteristic of all mammals. 



Economic importance. — Rabbits often do serious injury 

 to fruit trees by gnawing the bark from the trunks and 

 girdling them, during the winter season when food is scarce. 

 Occasionally, they injure gardens by eating the vegetables. 

 Rabbits were introduced into Australia from Europe about 

 1850 and in a few years had multiplied to such an extent 

 that they became a most serious pest and the Australian 

 government has spent large sums of money trying to get 

 rid of them. In parts of California these mammals occur 

 in great numbers and cause serious injury. 



On the other hand, the fur of the rabbit is used to make 

 felt and nearly all of the "derby" hats are made from this 

 material. The rabbit is also used for food to some extent 

 in this country, especially by the negroes in the southern 

 states. 



Habits of the rabbit. — This mammal ranges from New 

 England and Minnesota to Yucatan and because of its 



