98 



OEDEES OF MAMMALS— GNAWING ANIMALS 



dogs or men until the mowers found the nest 

 almost under their feet. Every year one or 

 two pair breed in the adjoining grounds of the 

 Department of Agriculture. 



When a rabbit can have his choice of hiding- 

 places, he chooses a burrow directly beneath a 

 large tree, the roots of which render it difficult, or 

 it may be impossible, for man or beast to dig him 

 out. Crevices in rock ledges are equally good, 

 but he often finds that hollow logs, hollow trees 

 and brush piles only lead to swift destruction. 



He never sleeps in daylight, when enemies are 

 afoot. If the Man-With-a-Gun approaches, he 

 crouches low and lies as still as a stuffed rabbit, 

 breathing seldom, winking never, but with legs 

 all ready to spring. His keen eyes and ears 

 measure every yard of his enemy's approach, 

 until the dead line is crossed when — Zip! Out 

 flashes a long, gray streak, — flying over logs, and 

 darting through openings so swiftly that in two 

 or three seconds a snow-white signal flag waves 

 an adieu, and disappears. 



In summer hares and rabbits feed on green 

 twigs, soft bark, buds, grass, leaves and berries'. 

 In winter they are forced to subsist chiefly on 

 the bark of bushes and the berries of the wild 

 rose. Whenever they gnaw the bark from young 

 fruit-trees, it is a sign that they are hard pressed 

 for food. 



Rabbits breed very rapidly, often raising three 

 litters a year, and if not kept in check by birds of 

 prey and carnivorous animals, would soon be- 



come altogether too numerous. In Australia 

 and New Zealand, the rabbits "introduced"' 

 from Europe have multiplied until they have be- 

 come a fearful scourge, and are now so numerous 

 it is impossible even to keep them in check. 

 Possibly the use of their flesh as food, and their 

 skins as "fur," may lead to an abatement of the 

 evil. The moral of the rabbit in Australia, the 

 mongoose in the West Indies, and the English 

 sparrow in America, is, before "introducing" a 

 foreign species of bird or mammal into America, 

 take expert advice, — and then don't do it! This 

 refers to species able to live wholly by their own 

 efforts when imported and set free. 



Bibliographical. 



The following popular papers are of special 

 interest and value : 



On Jack Rabbits. — The Jack Rabbits of the United 

 States. By Dr. T. S. Palmer; pamphlet, 88 pages. 

 Bulletin No. 8, Biological Survey, Department 

 of Agriculture. Washington, 1897. 



On Gophers. — The Pocket Gophers of the United 

 States. By Vernon Bailey; pamphlet, 47 pages. 

 Bulletin No. 5, as above, 1895. 



On Prairie-Dogs. — The Prairie-Dog of the Great 

 Plains. By Dr. C. Hart Merriam; pamphlet, 14 

 pages. Yearbook of the Department of Agricult- 

 ure, 1901. 



On Ground Squirrels.— The Prairie Ground Squirrels 

 of the Mississippi Valley. By Vernon Bailey; 

 pamphlet, 69 pages. Bulletin No. 4, Biological 

 Survey, Department of Agriculture, 1893. 



1 A species transplanted from one country to another is said to be " introduced.' 



