Antique Illustration of Rabbits or Hares circa 1750

Taken from a copper engraving published in the late 1700's. The print illustrates the Hooded, Angora, Domestics and Silver Haired rabbits along with the Varying Hare. The rabbit is not native to England. It was long maintained that the Normans introduced the animal but an archaeological dig near Thetford in Norfolk in 2005 unearthed rabbit remains in association with 2nd century AD pottery, While rabbits and hares belong to the Leopridae family there are important differences. Hares are larger and faster than rabbits and in general live above ground using their speed to escape predators. Rabbits find safety in burrows. Apart from when breeding hares are generally solitary animals while rabbits live in colonies or warrens. A young rabbit, called a kit, is born hairless and blind while a young hare, called a leveret, is born with hare and can usually see. Hares have never been domesticated while rabbits have been bred for their meat for 1000's of years.