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Periodicity of Refection in the Wild Rabbit

Abstract

SINCE my previous communication on this subject1various fresh data have thrown new light on the coprophagy or refection rhythm in wild rabbits. Taylor2 reported, that of a number of wild rabbits shot and examined for the presence in the stomach of soft fæcal pellets such as are re-ingested immediately, those shot in the evening contained such pellets ; those shot in the morning did not. He suggested, therefore, that the rhythm in wild rabbits was the reverse of that found in domestic rabbits ; the resting period of the former being during the day, naturally this would be the time when soft or 'night' pellets are produced and swallowed.

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References

  1. Southern, H. N., NATURE, 145, 262 (1940).

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  2. Taylor, E. L., Vet. Rec, 52, 259–62.

  3. Eden, A., NATURE, 145, 628–9 (1940).

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SOUTHERN, H. Periodicity of Refection in the Wild Rabbit. Nature 149, 553–554 (1942). https://doi.org/10.1038/149553b0

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