The Babbit 
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THE RABBIT. (Lepiu cunkulus.) 
This animal, in a wild stale, resembles the Hare in all its 
principal characters, but is distinguished from it by its 
smaller size, the comparative shortness of the head and 
hinder legs, the grey colour of the body, the absence of 
the black tip to the ears, and the brown colour of the 
upper part of the tail. Its habits, however, are very 
different, as being from its organization unable to out- 
strip its enemies in the chase, it seeks its safety and 
shelter by burrowing in the ground ; and instead of lead- 
ing a solitary life, its manners are eminently social. Its 
flesh is white and good, though not so much prized as 
that of the hare. 
The female begins to breed when she is about twelve 
months old, and bears at least seven times a year, gene- 
rally eight at each time ; now supposing this to happen 
regularly, a couple of Rabbits at the end of four years 
might see a progeny of almost a million and a half! 
Fortunately their destruction by various enemies is in 
proportion to their fecundity, or we might justly appre- 
hend being overstocked by them. The young are born 
blind, and almost destitute of hair ; while those of the 
hare can see, and are covered with hair. 
