A Guide for the Study of Animals Part 46

_The effects of domestication upon an animal. A burrowing type of rodent._

_Materials._

Living rabbits--young rabbits are more desirable for laboratory study.

_Observations._

_The Body._

1. What divisions of the body are there? Compare the length and use of the neck with that of the pigeon. Describe the character and length of the tail. What use has it, if any?

_Locomotion._

2. What methods of locomotion has the rabbit? Which is most commonly used?

3. Study the limbs, and find the ankle and wrist. Does the rabbit walk on its foot or its toes? Note the number and character of the toes and fingers and their claws. What is the effect of the nonretractile power of the claws upon the uses to which claws can be put?

4. What uses have the fore or the hind limbs other than locomotion?

Explain how the usual sitting or resting posture is advantageous for quick locomotion.

5. By means of printer's or writing ink smeared over the soles of the feet, and a long piece of clean white paper get prints of a rabbit's tracks as it hops over the paper. Explain how the peculiar formation of the tracks occurs.

_Feeding._

6. Offer a rabbit various kinds of food. How does it test the food before eating? Does the rabbit ever use its forelimbs to a.s.sist in feeding? If so, when and how? How is the food eaten? How are the teeth fitted for the rabbit's method of feeding? Does your rabbit drink? If so, how?

_Respiration._

7. What movements of the body are concerned in breathing?

8. Compare the frequency of the breathing movements with your own.

Can you distinguish the heart beats? If so, how and where? Count them.

_Sense Organs._

9. Note the position of the eyes, shape of their surface, shape and size of the pupil. What external protecting structures are present,--such as eyelids, eyelashes, eyebrows? Study the movements of the eyelids. Is there a third eyelid as in the bird? Compare the use of the neck in enlarging the range of vision with that of the bird. Is the rabbit's range of vision greater or less than your own?

10. What is the location of the nostrils? What advantages are gained by the prolongation of the face forward? Note any peculiarity in the form or movement of the nostrils. How do you explain these movements?

Are the nostrils more or less useful than those of other vertebrates you have studied? How?

11. Note the shape, size, and position of the external ears and explain what relation, if any, these characters of the ears have to hearing. Note the various movements of the ears and the reasons for these movements.

12. What special organs for touch has the rabbit? Under what circ.u.mstances are these of use? What parts of the body are most sensitive to touch?

_Protection._

13. What home-making habits do you observe in the rabbit? What habits relating to secrecy, comfort, and safety, do you observe?

14. Study the fur and hair of the rabbit. How do you distinguish between fur and hair? What variations do you find in the fur and hair? What parts of the body are uncovered? Why? What are the various functions of the fur and hair covering of rabbit?

15. Have rabbits any means of defense or offense? Explain.

_Social Habits._

16. Notice and describe anything in the behavior of the rabbits which may be cla.s.sed as social,--such as play, fondness for company, display of affection, homing instincts, care of young, etc.

Supplementary Study of Wild Rabbits

If you cannot answer these questions from observations of wild rabbits, the answers may be obtained by reading some good natural history. Ernest Thompson Seton's story of a rabbit's life is good for the purpose.

1. What method of locomotion is more highly developed in wild rabbits than in domestic rabbits? Why?

2. When do wild rabbits do their feeding? Why? In what ways do they sometimes do damage in feeding?

3. What senses will probably be more alert than those of the domestic rabbit? Why?

4. Where do wild rabbits usually make their homes? Why? How do they guard against being cornered in their homes?

5. In what ways do they guard against surprise when feeding? What are the princ.i.p.al enemies of rabbits? What devices do they employ to escape enemies when pursued by them? What is thumping? When used?

6. How many young rabbits are usually produced at one time? How many litters in a season? How long does it take a young rabbit to mature?

7. How are the young of rabbits guarded against danger from enemies and weather? What are the various causes that tend to keep down the numbers of rabbits?

8. Give an account of the plagues of rabbits in Colorado and Australia, including the reasons for the great increase in numbers and the methods used to destroy the rabbits.

Summary of the Study of Rabbits

1. What has been the general effect of domestication upon rabbits?

2. What are the most important characters and habits that fit the wild rabbit for its life?

The Guinea Pig or White Rat

_Materials._

Living animals.

_Observations._