R A B R A C 
of prey, and more particularly by the human race. 
But, notwithftanding they have fo many enemies, 
Pliny and Strabo inform us, that they were once 
fo great a nuifance to the inhabitants of the Ba- 
learic Iflands, that in the reign of Auguftus they 
implored the alTiftance of a military force from 
the Romans in order to their extirpation. 
Though Rabbits are capable of enduring a 
pretty cold climate, they feem to delight in a tem- 
perate onej and Spain may be faid to be their na- 
tive country. In Sweden they are obliged to be 
kept in houfes ; and, in ftill more northern re- 
gions, are entirely unknown. 
The hare difcovers various arts and indinfls 
for efcape, by doubling, fquatting, and winding. 
The Rabbit has only one mode of defence; but 
finds more fecurity in that one than the hare in all 
the cunning of which it is pofieflfed. This crea- 
ture forms a hole in the earth, where it continues 
a great part of the day, and nurfes it's young: 
there alfo it remains fecure from the fox, the 
hound, and the kite, and almoft every other enemy. 
About the time of parturition, the female 
makes choice of a retreat apart from the male. 
On this occafion llie digs a hole different from the 
ordinary one, as well as more intricate, and forms 
a fpacious apartment at it's bottom. She then 
plucks from her own body a large quantity of 
hair, with which flie prepares a kind of bed for 
her young, whom ftie never leaves for the two 
firft days, except to procure nourifhment, and 
then returns with the utmoft difpatch. She con- 
tinues to fuckle them for near fix weeks; about 
the expiration of which time they are generally 
able to come abroad. During this period the 
female is feldom vifited by the male; but as foon 
as the little family is capable of reaching the 
mouth of the hole, he feems to acknowledge them 
as his offspring; takes them between his paws, 
fmooths their flcins, and licks their eyes; each in 
it's turn receiving an equal (hare of his carelfes. 
Tame Rabbits, confcious of protedtion, never 
dig holes for their retreats. Wild Rabbits are 
invariably brown; but domeftic ones, like all 
other creatures under the direction of man, are of 
various colours, white, black, brown, moufe-co- 
lour, and mottled : thefe animals, though lefs than 
hares, are longer lived; and in general fatter; but 
their flefii is lefs delicate. Tame Rabbits are 
larger than the wild race, becaufe of a more co- 
pious fupply of provifions; but their flefh is fofter, 
as well as more infipid. The counties of Lin- 
coln, Norfolk, and Cambridge, are generally 
efteemed the moft famous for thefe animals of any 
in England. Their ficins are fometimes fubfti- 
tuted in the room of fur for trimmings: but their 
principal ufe is in the manufacture of hars; and 
fuch parts of the fur as are too coarfe for thatpur- 
pofe, are now and then applied to the fluffing of 
beds, inflead of feathers. 
Rabbits are fubjeifl to two diftempers. Of 
thefe the rot is the principal, which is generally 
occafioned by their feeding too plentifully on 
green vegetables, particularly v/hen impregnated 
v/ith much rain or dew. The origin of this dif- 
eafe is always too much moiflure: their greens 
therefore fhould be given dry, and a fufficient 
quantity of hay, or other dry food, intermixed 
with them, in order to imbibe the fuperabundant 
moiflure of their juices. On this account the 
Ihorteil and fweeteil hay that can be procured is 
the very bell food for tame Rabbits, one load of 
which will ferve two hundred couple for a whole 
year: and of this flock of two hundred an equal 
number may be confumed in the family, as many, 
fold, and a fufficient number retained in cafe of 
accidents, 
_ The other malady incident to Rabbits is afpe- 
cies of madnefs; which may be perceived by their 
wallowing and tumbling abrut with their heels 
upwards, and hopping in a very fingular manner. 
I'his diflemper is fuppofed to originate from the 
ranknefs of their food; and the general cure con- 
fifts in keeping them low, and fupplying them 
plentifully with the prickly herb called tare-thiflle. 
Rabbit, Syrian. This fpecies, like other 
creatures bred in that country, is remarkable for 
the length and fine texture of it's hair, which falls 
along the fides in wavy wreaths; and, in Ibme 
places, is curled at the end : it is fl:ied annually in 
large mafies; and it often happens that the Rab- 
bit, when dragging a part of this robe on the 
ground, appears as if pofTeffed of an additional 
leg, or an enormous long tail. 
Rabbit, Hooded. This creature has a dou- 
ble fkin over the back, into which it can with- 
draw it's head; and another under the thrpat, in 
which it can place it's fore-legs. There are two 
holes in the loofe fkin of the back, which admit 
light to the eyes. The colour of the body is a 
palifh yellow; and the head and ears are brown. 
Rabbit, Brazilian; theL,epus Brazilienfis of 
Linnseus. This animal has very long ears, black 
eyes, and a white ring round the neck. The face 
is of areddifh colour; the chin is white; the body 
is fomev/hat darker than that of the common 
hare; the belly is whitifh; and there are fcarcely 
the rudiments of a tail. 
Some of thefe animals are deflitute of the white 
ring about the neck. They inhabit Brazil and 
Mexico, living in the woods, but never burrow- 
ing. They are extremely prolific; and their flefh 
is efteemed excellent food. 
Rabbit, Baikal. The fur of this animal is 
of the colour of the common hare, except that it 
is red about the neck and feet; and the tail is 
long, black above, and white beneath. 
This creature, which is larger than the common 
Rabbit, inhabits the country beyond the Lake of 
Baikal. 
Rabbit, Cape ; the Lepus Capenfis of Lin- 
nasus. This fpecies, called alfo the mountain- 
hare, has long ears of a rofe-colour; the head and 
back are dufky, mixed with tawny; the cheeks 
and fides are cinereous; the breafl, belly, and 
legs, are rufii-coloured ; and the tail, which is 
bufliy, and carried upright, is of a pale ferrugi- 
nous colour. 
RABCHORCADO. An American bird, de- 
fcribed by Nieremberg with fo many fabulous 
circumftances, that it is impoffible to detenriine 
unto what genus of the feathered tribe it properly 
belongs. 
RABOLANE. An appellation by which 
fome naturalifts exprefs the lagopus, a bird found 
in mountainous countries; more generally called 
the white partridge. 
RACCOON ; the Urfus Lotor of Linnsus. 
This animal, which fome authors denominate the 
Jamaica rat, is about the fize of a fmall badger. 
The body is fhort and bulky ; the nofe is black 
and fharp-pointed ; the ears are fhort and rounded; 
and the eyes are encircled with two broad patches 
of blaqk. The upper jaw is longer than the un- 
der; 
