IS many of you are aware, the Rabbit is the most fruitful little animal in our Island, and if it were not prevented from multiplying by many enemies, it would speedily eat up every green thing. An old heathen writer, named Pliny, who, like Solomon, made himself acquainted with nearly everything in the world, well observes that nature "hath showed great kindness in causing those things to be most prolific that are the most harmless and the properest for our food." If we say God instead of nature, this is true of the Rabbit. Pennant, whom I have quoted before, and who wrote much on birds and animals just one hundred and two years ago, tells us they will breed seven times a year, and bring eight young ones each time; should this continue without interruption for four years, one single pair and their progeny, would produce no fewer than 1,274,840 Rabbits.
But, as I have said, they have a large number of enemies who effectually prevent this enormous increase. In our country, an immense number are constantly killed for food. Then the ferret, the squirrel, the weasel and the hawk, are also his deadly foes. Still, ancient history tells us that in the Balcaric Islands, situated not far from Spain, and in the time of the Roman Empire, Rabbits multiplied so plentifully that the whole Islands were overrun, and the people had to implore the help of soldiers from Augustus, the Roman Emperor, to rid them from so great a calamity.
It is pretty clear that the Rabbit has not been many hundred years in our country. The time when it first settled in Britain is unknown. The general conviction is, that it was first introduced to Spain from Africa by the Romans; from which country it gradually spread, and became naturalized throughout the temperate parts of Europe. Five hundred and fifty years ago, they were so scarce in England as to be worth sixpence each, a great sum in that day, and sufficient to purchase a whole pig. History tells us that at a great feast, the installation of the Abbot of St. Austins, six hundred Rabbits were served up as a great dainty. As a proof of how rapidly they increase, I may tell you that it is only a few years since a few were taken to Australia and let loose, and now they have increased to such an extent as to have become quite a nuisance.
I have no doubt many of my boy readers have got their tame rabbits, as I had when I was a boy, and you know their interesting little ways; what they like to eat; how needful it is to keep them from the damp; and that they must only be taken up by their ears; you know too, how tame little Bunny will become, and how gladly he will nibble the parsley from your hand. Much that I have forgotten you will know very well, and your little sisters too, who love them quite as much, and perhaps more tenderly than you do. Moreover, as it is our wild animals I am telling you about, let me give you some account of the Rabbit in its wild state of freedom.
All I need to say about its description is, that it is very like the hare, only smaller. Its habits are very different. The hare provides itself with no well-formed home; but is content to squat in any concealed place on ground: it lives a solitary life; it always trusts to flight or stratagem for safety; it never seeks security in the earth or in trees; nor does it ever prepare a nest for its young. In all these particulars the habits of the Rabbit are very opposite. He likes to live in a country which has deep dells, and steep banks of red sandstone or sand. If on the surface there is a rich growth of tender grasses, and sweet-smelling herbs, Bunny is all the more delighted.. In these sand-hills he digs deep burrows, along which he forms quite a number of chambers. Here is his home, and to this he immediately flies in case of danger. He is said to be very particular about the formation of this burrow or dwelling. If possible, the entrance is lower than any other part of it, so that it may never be flooded by rains. At the very end of a separate burrow the female builds a home or nursery for her baby Bunnies. She bestows great care on this home, making a most comfortable nest of moss and dry leaves, and then thickly lining it with the soft warm fur from her own body.
In this we see a clear illustration of those wonderful instincts which God has given to all His creatures. If the Rabbit took no more precaution for the protection of its young, perhaps every one of them would perish. The hare provides no nest whatever, because her young have no need of such a shelter.
They are born covered with fur, and able to see and can almost immediately find for themselves. How different with the young of the Rabbit! They are so naked, that the least exposure to cold would destroy them; they are totally blind and helpless for ten or twelve days, and not able to leave the burrow till they are four or five weeks old. It is said that every time she leaves her family the mother carefully covers them up to protect them from the cold. Now who has taught those two animals in some things so much alike, all this difference in the care needed for their young? It is not experience; for the young mother Bunny makes as much provision for her first family as her last. No, we can trace all this forethought and tender affection, as in a thousand other instances, to the wisdom and care of Him who at first made all things "very good."
Rabbits, like hares, are found most where there is a rich covering of ferns, in parks or commons covered with furze and especially in woods, from which they sally forth in search of food. They are so valuable for the market, and increase so rapidly that large commons or waste lands are devoted to their feeding and increase. These are called Rabbit warrens, and here immense numbers congregate together, where at the close of the day, and especially on a warm moonlight night, many hundreds may be seen for hours, sporting in the most amusing manner. They will gambol together and chase each other with wonderful rapidity, but the moment there is the least alarm, their flight to the burrows is instant and surprising.