SC - rabbits in England

[Stefan li Rous]

Karin asked:
> 
> > The Romans also introduced rabbits to England. The rabbits don't seem
> > to have survived that long after the Romans left. Do we have any evidence
> > of whether the almond trees did?
> >
>         Whoa - am I missing something crucial here? Rabbits WERE brought in
> by the Romans and although they dropped in number for a while during the
> dark ages, they were important throughout the middle ages as a food source,
> as evidenced by the large numbers of medieval warrens found in the grounds
> of our stately homes. I did not think they disappeared completely.

>From earlier discussion here, it appears that rabbits were introduced to
England by the Romans. However, they died out after this and were re-introduced
by the Normans.

Hares have always been native to England throughout our period.

If you have some documentation refuting (or supporting) this, I would love
to see it.

The conversations on the rabbits in England can be found in this file in
the ANIMALS section of my Florilegium:
rabbits-msg       (18K) 10/ 6/97    Medieval rabbits. As pets and food.

I think "Food and Drink in England" (?) may also say this but I can't find
my copy right now.
- -- 
Lord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
Mark S. Harris             Austin, Texas           stefan at texas.net
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:
          http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/rialto/rialto.html ****
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