CHAPTEE XVI. 



SMALL FOLK WITH LIVELY PBET. 



The Gray Rabbit, Northern Varying Hare, and the 



Squirrels. 



The little gray rabbit {Lepus transitionalis*) 

 which often goes by the soubriquet of Mollie Cotton- 

 tail, is a most remarkably prolific animal ; that 

 is the first thing of interest about the creature. 

 The next thing is, that its favorite food unfor- 

 tunately is the buds, young shoots, and bark 

 of apple or peach trees — especially those new 

 kinds which one has set out in the orchard. 

 When the moon is shining full over the glit- 

 tering snow, and the winter night is full 

 of witchery and charm, the ffisthetic side 

 ^^,^, ^,j of Nature appeals to one's highest and 

 ' best thoughts. But let the two ears of 



The silhouette ° 



o£ two ears. bunny appear silhouetted against the 



silvery light, and there is another side 



of N^ature revealed which is not quite so charming. 



To the artist the picture is not only still beautiful, 



* Formerly Lepus sylvaticus. 



259 



