1 882.] The Gray Rabbit (Lepus sylvatictis). 941 



And little wonder that the hind limbs, with their armament of 

 claws should be quite effective when we recall that grand out- fit 

 of muscles, which enables them to make such prodigious leaps. 

 We spoke of the surprise of the immigrant at the lusty kicking of 

 the entrapped rabbit. Such conduct is, however, exceptional, or 

 at most it lasts for a very short time. When taken by the hand, 

 the captured rabbit at first, in its terror, utters a plaintive but 

 musical cry; it is not properly a squeak; and after a few impo- 

 tent struggles, it is dazed into a passive submission. Thus an 

 adult gray rabbit may be carried lying full length on one's arm, 

 the front toes being loosely held between the fingers, although 

 it has been taken but five minutes from the trap. After a little 

 show of resistance it has submitted to the situation. Once when 

 riding with my daughter, we came upon a gorgeous patch of 

 Lupinits pcrennis by the roadside. I got out to gather some, 

 when a young rabbit sprang out of the glowing bed of purple 

 bloom. It dashed into a heap of brush near by, which enabled 

 me to capture it without inflicting injury. I bore my pretty 

 prize to the carriage. But though only for a moment, that plain- 

 tive whistle in the minor key, so flute- like and so pitiful, kept 

 piping in our ears. Our hearts misgave us. Daughter plead for 

 the little prisoner's release; that decided the matter. I bore it 

 gently back to the bed of lupines, where it easily hid itself, and 

 like a helpless little prince was safe under the royal purple. 



This almost non-resistant quality of the gray rabbit, has given 

 me a liking for it. It is your pampered tame one that excels in 

 the mulish accomplishment of kicking at his master. But when 

 "striking out " becomes a virtue, the mother gray-back has been 

 known to shine. Once when inspecting the animals of a certain 



mongrel, at which his tender shouted: " Keep away from that 

 mule or he'll stoop up at you, and if you do excite his upsetting 

 ^n you'll get his compliments, and you won't forget it either !" 

 We ejaculated : " The long-eared hybrid !" " Yes, sir, that's so," 



him was a good trick mule." What sharp observers these " animal- 

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