NATURAL HISTORY OF THE RABBIT ^ 



it in chips on the ground ; a rabbit, as just remarked, 

 will eat peel and all. Rats very often will leave a 

 turnip half eaten to go to another ; but if they mean 

 to consume the bulb, they invariably finish in the 

 middle. The top falls over at last with a truncated 

 portion of the bulb attacked. 



In pointing out some of the most marked dif- 

 ferences which exist between a rabbit and a hare, 

 allusion has been made inter alia to that which exists 

 in the relative length of the limbs, and this is cor- 

 related with the different mode of retreat adopted by 

 • the two species. A rabbit seeks safety by conceal- 

 ment in a burrow j a hare seeks safety in flight. 

 Obviously the greater length of the hind legs in the 

 latter animal gives greater power and speed, and this 

 is especially noticeable when a hare is going uphill. 

 The shorter limbs of the rabbit are useful in other 

 ways, namely, for throwing out the soil behind it when 

 burrowing, and for giving the alarm to its companions 

 by thumping on the ground, and so attracting the 

 attention of those within hearing. 



The advantage of having a white under-surface 

 to the tail is also apparent on reflection; for when, 

 on the approach of an intruder while rabbits are 

 out feeding, those nearest to him begin to scuttle 

 away, the little white flag in motion at once attracts 



