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THE RABBIT. 



Our common rabbit is a very comical little creature. 

 He sits on his haunclies, listening when he thinks dan- 

 ger is near. This animal is sometimes called a hare. 

 The color is gray mixed with brown above and white 

 below. The tail is a mere bunch of fur. They have 

 nests in the grass and burrows in the ground, but they 

 usually depend upon their speed for safety. They 

 often sit still until you are within a few feet of them, 

 then with a sudden leap are gone. The ears of the 

 rabbit are long and lay back flat upon the head. The 

 eyes are large and placed in such a position that they 

 have a range of vision almost all around them, thus 

 making it very difficult to approach them unseen. The 

 young of the rabbit are truly beautiful. While taking 

 a walk one summer I found two very small ones. 

 They seemed quite tame and permitted me to stroke 

 them. Their food consists chiefly of grass, leaves and 

 bark from young trees. They often come to our gar- 

 dens in search of cabbage of which they are very fond. ^ 

 Young trees are sometimes divested of their bark by 

 these animals in a manner which is likely to prove in- 

 jurious to both the tree and rabbit; for the trees 

 usually die and the rabbit is likely to follow suit if he 

 gets within the range of the farmer's trap or gun. 

 Rabbits are much prized for food and every winter 

 brings destruction to a great number of them. There 

 are several species, some of which are white. English 

 rabbits are very pretty. In color they are white and 

 bluish drab. They are usually kept as pets, but their 

 house must be secure as they are great diggers, often 

 burrowing under walls and thus effecting their escape. 



