Lesson 32 The Rabbit at Home

Father says we may take Bunny out of the hutch, said Fred, "and let it run about in the garden for half an hour. While it has a run, we will sit down and chat about it.

We know that the rabbit is a timid, little animal. It has many enemies in its wild state, but it cannot fight them. It has to get away from them as fast as it can. Its sharp eyes and ears are meant to give the rabbit warning, if any of these enemies are about. Its legs, too, help it to get away very quickly.

Then, said Willie, "it was made to live on roots and all sorts of plant food. Its chisel teeth are just fitted for gnawing off its food in pieces, and its grinders and jaws for chewing it."

Besides this, added Fred, "it has a thick, warm coat of fur, just fitted for an animal that is meant to live in the open air. Its whiskers, too, are useful for feeling its way, when it is too dark to see. Its strong claws are made for scratching and digging in the earth.

Shall I tell you all about the wild rabbit in its home, Norah?

Oh yes, do, please, said his sister.

Then listen, little girl, and you will see how well it is fitted for the life it has to lead. In all parts of the country rabbits live wild in the fields and woods. They are very timid creatures, and like to hide away out of sight in their homes. But where do you think those homes are? They are under the ground. They choose a sandy spot, where it will be warm and dry, and here they dig long, winding tunnels, or burrows, with their strong feet and stout blunt claws.

They live together in great numbers, and make their burrows side by side. A great many burrows close together form a warren. The burrows are just big enough for them. Foxes, and other wild flesh-eaters, cannot make their way into these holes, so that the rabbit is safe there from all its enemies. It is dark in the burrows of course, but the rabbit uses its whiskers instead of its eyes, and feels its way. At the end of the winding burrow is the rabbit's home—a warm, snug nest made of grass, hay, and straw, from the fields around. Here the rabbit lives with his wife and children quite safe from harm.

All day the rabbits hide in their burrows. After dusk, and early in the morning, they come out to scamper in the fields, and find their food. They do much damage by gnawing the farmer's crops, so they have to reckon the farmer with his gun as another of their enemies.

SUMMARY

The wild rabbit makes its home in a burrow under the ground. Its blunt, strong claws are its digging tools. It feels its way in these dark tunnels with its whiskers. It comes out into the fields, morning and evening, to feed on the farmer's crops.