86 VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF LAKELAND 



of the Cumberland warrens, while in the following year there 

 appeared a note that ' some narrow tracks of light sandy soil 

 along the coast, from Harrington to Abbey-holm, are occupied 

 by rabbits, There are also warrens in the parishes of Wyber- 

 thwaite, Drig, and Heskit.' * Mr. Pringle adds a note regarding 

 Westmorland : ' A few rabbits are kept in the neighbourhood 

 of Brough and Orton, and there is a small warren in Ravenstone- 

 dale, but it is rare to see them in any other part of Westmor- 

 land.' 2 But though local in distribution in Westmorland even 

 as recently as the close of the last century, the Rabbit has long 

 been numerous in many parts of Cumberland. A warrener was 

 constantly employed as one of Lord William Howard's outdoor 

 servants at Naworth. There is an entry in 1622, which shows 

 this worthy to have been proficient in ferreting : ' Tho. Warriner. 

 Feb. 4. A wallet for the ferrets, viij d . Corde, viij d . An yron for 

 his staffe, xiiij d . A hanck of yarn for mending his net, vi d .' 3 

 But he also caught the conies in traps, because we find an entry 

 to this effect in August 1634 : ' 11th. To Rowland Hewthwate 

 for 8 dayes' woorke in makeinge trapps for the warraner, and 

 mending waynes, vi s . viij d .' Apparently he was paid by piece- 

 work ; for example, in 1622, we find that he was paid eight 

 shillings for rabbiting : 'Feb. 19. To the warriner for xij jur- 

 neys to Peatwath to kill conyes, viij s .' He was employed also 

 in improving the warren. The following entries refer to 1634 : 

 * March 6. For castinge boroughs in the cunnie warren, xij d . 

 April 5. For makeinge cunnie bourrowes in the warren, xvj s . 

 20. More to the warraner for makeinge cunnie burroughs, xxij s . 

 April 28. More to the warraner for makeinge cunnie burroughs 

 in the warren, x s .' 



It would be idle to enlarge upon the habits of this animal, 

 but to some an instance of its occasional longevity may be of 

 interest. In 1883 there was living in Carlisle a wild Rabbit 

 which had entered on its eleventh year, and still enjoyed rude 

 health. It was a household pet, and showed a strong predilec- 

 tion for drinking tea. 



i Agricultural Survey of Cumberland, p. 216. 2 lb. cit. p. 290. 



3 Household Books of Lord William Howard, p. 179. 



