Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), the Old World rabbit. [1828]. A rodent introduced to Britain by the Normans in the 11th century as a protein source, it has become an agricultural pest. It was introduced to Australia with disastrous results. From 'British Quadrupeds', W MacGillivray, (Edinburgh, 1828), one of the volumes in William Jardine's Naturalist's Library series. Hand-coloured engraving.