History of British animals - University of Guam Marine Laboratory

Lepus. MAMMALIA. FERA. 21Merr. Pin. p. 168 Sibb. Scot. p. 11— Rat/, Quad. 214—Linn. Syst.i. 86 Penn. Brit. Zool. i. 107- B, Gwiwair; G, Feorag. In oldwooded districts.This lively active animal frequents extensive woods, where it resides onthe trees, feeding on buds, twigs, and fruits. It lays up a stock of provisionfor the winter, it securing in the cleft of an old tree. It forms its nest ofmoss or dried leaves in a similar situation, in which it brings forth from fourto five j'oung. These are easily tamed, but prove destructive to furniture.They sit erect, covering the body with the tail, and using the fore-legsashands. Destructive to young plantations. Have disappeared from someparts of Argyleshire, where they were formerly abundant ; Statist. Account,i. p. 487.II. Summits of the grinders fiat, with the enamel appearingpartially on the surface.Herbivorous.Gen. XIX. LEPUS. Hare.— Subsidiary incisors in theupper jaw.The prismatic grindersare six in the upper,and five in the lower jaw on each side. Inside of thecheeks hairy. Five fingers and four toes. Furnished witha tail.Ears large.30. L timidus. Common Hare.— Ears longer than thehead, and black towards the tips. Tail black above, white beneath.Weight from 6 to 12 lb.Merr. Pin. 168—Sibb. Scott, p. 11— Ray, Quad. p. 204 Penn. Brit.Zool. i. p. 98. S, Maukin or Cuttie ; W, Ysgyfarnog, Ceinach ; G,Maigheach—In cultivated districts. Not in the Northern Isles.The hare has its form on the ground. It breeds several times in a season,pairing in February ; goes with young thirty days, and produces from one tofive at a litter. The young have their eyes and ears perfect, the body coveredwith fur, and the limbs fit for locomotion. Destructive to gardens andyoung plantations. Flesh highly valued for soup, though of a dark colour.Fur valuable. In Scotland the skins are collected by itinerant dealers, andannuallv sold in the February market at Dumfries, sometimes to the amountof 30,000.A black hare was killed lately at Netley, Shropshire, by my respected friend,the Reverend F. W. Hope.31. L. cunniculus. Rabbit.— Ears shorter than the head, darkcoloured towards the tips. Tail above nearly of the same colouras the back. Weight from 3 to 5 ft).Men: Pin. p. 168—Sibb. Scot. 111. p. 11 Ray, Syn. Quad. p. 205Penn. Brit. Zool. i. p. 104. E, Coney ; S, Kinnen ; B, Cwningen.The rabbit is common on the British continent and islands, but would soonbe extirpated unless protected in warrens. It breeds six or seven times inthe year, and brings forth five to eight at a litter. The eyes and ears, atbirth, are imperfect, the skin is destitute of hair, and the lin.-bs unfit for locomotion.Easily domesticated, and in many situations might be reared to advantage.Its flesh is white and delicate, and its fur valuable—Three varietiesoccur. The first is the common Grey Rabbit, widely dispersed. The secondis the Black Rabbit, found in several warrens, but nowhere numerous.The third is the Silky Rabbit, probably brought originally from Angora. Theyand a few other islands. They do not associate with theoccur in the May,