258 



that's it; 



constantly doubles about, which frequently 

 throws the dogs out of the scent ; and she gene- 

 rally goes against the wind. It is extremely 

 remarkable that hares, however frequently 

 pursued by the dogs, seldom leave the place 

 where they were brought forth, or that in 

 which they usually sit ; and it is a very 

 common thing to tind them, after a long and 

 severe chase, in the sa«ie place the following 

 day. 



9 



661. 



The rabbit, 9, which we may 

 likewise have seen during our 

 ramble, is very similar to the 

 hare except in size; and it has 

 not the black tip to the ears 

 which distinguishes the hare. 

 It is worthy of notice that the 

 habits of the rabbit are very 

 different from those of the hare, 

 though their forms so closely 

 resemble. The hare produces 

 her young clothed, capable of 

 seeing, and in a condition to 

 shift for themselves. But young 

 rabbits are born blind, helpless, 

 and naked. The female, there- 

 fore, forms a separate burrow, 

 tit the bottom of which she 

 makes a nest of dried grass, 

 lining it with fur, which she 

 tears from her own body. In 

 this nest she deposits her young, 

 carefully covering them every 

 time she leaves them. The 

 young ones are not able to 

 see until the tenth or twelfth 

 day ; and they do not leave 

 the burrow until they are four 

 or five weeks old. 



In sandy heaths, covered with large bushes 

 of furze, rabbits often multiply to a great 

 extent ; as the soil is easily removed, and the 

 dense furze affords a secure cover to their 

 retreat, and a wholesome, ready, and never- 

 failing food ; for the young tops of the plants are 

 found constantly eaten down, and the bushes 

 present the appearance of a solid mass, with 

 the surface even and rounded, as far as the 

 rabbits can reach them standing on their 

 hinder legs. They make extensive inroads, 

 however, upon corn-fields and plantations, in 

 which they do considerable mischief by de- 

 vouring the newly-sprung corn, and barking 

 the young trees. They generally retire within 

 their burrows during the day, coming abroad 

 about twilight to feed. . . . The rapid 

 multiplication of the rabbit would soon render 

 it one of the greatest scourges of our agricul- 

 ture, were it not, on the one hand, destroyed by 

 birds and beasts of prey, and on the other, 

 sought by man as an article of food, and on 

 account of its fur, which is used for various 

 purposes. The supply for this latter object 

 would, however, be wholly unequal to the 

 demand, were our furriers dependent upon 

 the produce of our country only. Hundreds of 

 thousands of rabbit-skins are annually im- 

 ported here from Germany, and other parts of 

 the northern and middle districts of Europe, 

 where myriads of rabbits are bred for this 

 purpose.* 



Although we are unlikely to 

 have seen the badger, 10, on 

 account of its retiring and 



10 



G62. 



nocturnal habits, some mention 

 of it should be made. This 

 animal frequents deep woods, 

 where it makes a deep, com- 

 modious burrow, for the excava- 

 tion of which its short, muscular 

 limbs and powerful claws are 

 well adapted. The burrow has 

 only one entrance, leading into 

 different chambers, and termi- 



* Boll's British Quadrupeds 



