Continuous observations of the activity of the wild rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.), during 24 hour periods

Abstract

Continuous observations during three separate 24-hour periods were carried out in late spring on a population of individually marked wild rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.), established in an artificially illuminated enclosure. Rabbits were observed to feed throughout the night, with a peak at 2100 hr. Sexual behaviour during post-parturn oestrus, and copulation between a buck and a virgin doe, are described. An account of the daily activities of individual rabbits is given; and the bearing of the observed pattern of activity on the reliability of sight counts for the estimation of rabbit populations is discussed.