496 
MAMMALIA. 
they are born the mother quits the burrow, after having carefully 
closed the entrance; and every day she comes to suckle her 
family, always renewing the same precautions at her departure. 
In about twenty days they are able to provide for themselves, 
and are strong enough to do without protection. These remain 
together, and soon make a burrow for themselves, where they 
live in common. 
Fig. 216. — Wild Babbits and Young. 
The Wild Rabbit, also called the Warren Rabbit (Fig. 217), 
is said to be a native of Africa, from whence it passed into Spain, 
then into France and Italy, and successively into all the warm 
and temperate parts of Europe ; it is also found in Asia Minor 
and in Persia. Everything leads to the belief that this species is 
the origin of our domestic Rabbit. 
