Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/494

466&#93; 466] R A B ticared, they are generally black, white, or pied ; and their eyes are transparently red. These animals are reared either in irarrens, or in hutches; in the former state, they are permitted to roam at liberty, where they burrow and breed. The best places for such purpose are sandy hills, or those which consist of a loose soil ; but it will.be necessary to inclose them either with a stone or sod- wall ; and at the same time to bore horizontal cavities for the passage of these quadrupeds, till they have formed their own burrows : — the most proper shrub to be planted in such situations, is the juniper-tree, the leaves of which are eagerly eaten by rabbits, and impart to their flesh a delicate, spicy flavour. As warrens are infested with kites, pole-cats, eagles, and other free- iaooters, it will be advisable to set traps on the stumps or tops of old trees, or on artificial hillocks of a conical form ; m order to catch these depredators, as they usually alight on ^uch -places. It rabbits are designed to be reared in a tame state, the hutches must be kept constantly clean ; as, otherwise, these creatures will be frequently attacked with diseases. — ^l"he m;iles, or bucks, should be parted from the does, or females, till ti:e latter kindle; at which time one of the former may be allowed to six or eight of the lat- ter; and a sufficient quantity of fresh hay should be provided, for the construftion of a led, or nest. The females begin to breed, when about six montiis old ; being very prolific, they bring forth, seven times in the year, from four to eight conies at a litter, after a Lgestation of thirty days ; ar,d, in the course of six weeks, the young RAH rabbits are able to seek for thoi? own food. The provision of these animals ought to consist of grass, cabbages, carrots, endive, clover- hay, and similar vegetables, which should be given them frequently, in a fresh, though not wet state > an4, as soon as the young conies begin to disagree after being wean- ed, it will be necessary to separate them. Rabbits are chiefly subje(51: to two disorders, which, if they be not timely atte.ided to, generally prove fatal: l.The rot, which is occa- sioned by feeding ihem with too large a proportion of green vege- tables, or with such as were gather- ed before the dew or rain was eva- porated. It may, however, be pre- vented by strict attention to their food, and especially by mixing a certain portion of clover, or other hay, with green or moist plants. 2. A species of viadncss, which may be ascertained by their restless- ness ; as these animals roll them- selves on tlie floor of their hutches in an uncouth manner, and hoj> about in odd postures. Such dis- temper generally arises from rank feeding, and may be cured by keeping them low, and giving them tare, or spear-thistles, the Cur~ du'us lanceolatus, L. The usual modes of catching wild rabbits are, by what is called pmse-yiets, and by ferrets ; though they are sometimes coursed with small greyhoiuids, or widi spaniel* trained' up to the sport. Another method consists in smohiug them out of their burrows, by burning sulphur and orpiment at the en- trance. The deletei ious fumes of these articles compel the animals to rush into the net spread for their reception ; but, as their flesh may thus be rendered unwholesome.