THE RABBIT. 



therefore, that this happens conftantly and regularly during the period of 

 four years, a lingle pair will, in that time, produce one million two hundred 

 and feventy four thoufand, eight hundred and forty : no wonder then, that 

 Spain, a country fo congenial to their conlHtution, mould have been once fo 

 overrun by them, as to reduce the inhabitants to the neceflity of fending to 

 Africa for Ferrets to deltroy them, as has been already obferved in the 

 account given of the Ferret. From this amazing difpolition to increafe, we 

 Ihould certainly be overllocked by them, were they not mrrounded by a holt, 

 of enemies, confifting of almolt every beaft and bird of prey, to whofe attacks 

 they are unable to make the fmalleft refinance ; and, indeed, were it not for 

 the fecurity they mid in their burrows, the race would foon be extirpated. 

 But their greateft enemy is man, who, like a falfe friend, appears to take 

 them under his protection, that he may have it in his power to detlroy them 

 when he pleafes, for the fake of their flem and lkin ; the former of which 

 every one knows is an elegant article of food, and the hair of the latter is 

 much ufed in the manufacture of hats; the lkin, with the hair on, is alfo 

 ufed as a fubftitute for fur to trim garments ; and fuch parts of the hair as 

 are too coarfe for thefe purpofes, are often made ufe of as fluffing for beds, 

 to fave the expence of feathers. 



To protect them from thefe numerous foes, the Creator, ever watchful 

 over the fafety of his creatures, has endued them with the inftinctive faculty, 

 of forming fubterraneous retreats, which are fo contracted, as to be 

 inacceflible to any but the fmaller quadrupeds, and fecure them entirely 

 from the attacks of birds of prey, which are well known to avoid places 

 impervious to light. They dig thefe burrows with their feet, and often 

 extend them to a confiderable length, contriving that each burrow is 

 furnifhed with two apertures, which, although at a conliderable diltance 

 from each other, always communicate, fo that, in cafe of an attack, the 

 poor animal has always a door to efcape at. In thefe burrows it fpends the 

 day in iafety, and only comes out morning and evening, to feed. 



When the female is about to bring forth, me makes choice of a burrow, 

 feparate from the male, which me forms very different from the ordinary 



