NATURAL HISTORY OF THE RABBIT 29 



rhododendrons when the latter are well established, 

 they will gnaw them when freshly planted, unless 

 protected, like Aucubas. It is said that they will not 

 touch Rhododendron ponticum, even if the plants are 

 small and the winter severe. Nor will they feed upon 

 Elder, which has the recommendation of growing well 

 under trees, and when pleached (or ' plashed,' as it is 

 termed locally) rabbits will lie well under it. They 

 are not to be trusted near Hollies or young Osiers. 

 Indeed they seem to be rather partial to Hollies, and 

 in time of snow will attack even old trees. In hard 

 weather, too, both Laurels and Privet suffer from their 

 depredations. The larger kinds of Box, Snowberry 

 plant iSyniphoricarpus), and Butcher's Broom (Ruscus 

 aculeatus) are recommended where the soil is favour- 

 able to their growth, and, for wet places. Scarlet Dog- 

 wood {Cornus sanguined). In moist woods, too, a 

 good thing to plant is Carex pendula, a common 

 sedge, which forms good evergreen ground covert, 

 and is very free. In like soil the Wood-rush, Briar, 

 and Wood-grass (Aira) may be recommended. 



In the way of berried shrubs nothing is more 

 beautiful than a well-grown specimen of Cotoneaster 

 affinis. Every year it is laden with bunches of glossy 

 red berries. It is well adapted for planting along the 

 edges of game coverts, as it affords plenty of food for 



