A Ittenris Humoun.
A delightful incident, illustrating the tolerant humour of the domestic dog, occurs frequently among the live-stock of a llemestead in the Eastern Counties. The favourite terrier, which is a great hunter of wild rabbits, is entirely well-disposed to the tame rabbits which belong to the establishment. But it oectirred one day to a Puckish child to urge the terrier to attack the rabbit. He obeyed to the point of showing a sham hostility of attitude and advancing upon the enemy. This change .of behaviour infuriated the rabbit to such a point that it screamed with indignation, ran at .the dog, routed it and chased it across the lawn. The spectacle so amused the ghildren that they made a game of it ; and the dog and rabbit now thoroughly enter into the spirit., The dog barks, the rabbit squeals, and finally the dog in mimic terror is chivvied round the lawn by its natural prey. I once saw a very-young beagle pup pursue a tame rabbit, which duly. and properly ran away till tired of the game, when it turned round and slapped the beagle pup on the side of the head. The desolate astonish- Meat of the dog at such treatment from an animal that is sup- Posed to run away provided as ludicrous a spectacle as anyone could wish to see. The puppy sat up blinking and trying, doubtless; to set right the misinterpretation of its instinct to Pursue rabbits. It probably fumbled after the generalization that rabbits on lawns are different creatures, in spite of their scent and appearance, than rabbits alongside hedgerows.
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