A RABBIT-STORY.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."
SIR,—It may interest your readers to learn that the rare feat of rearing the wild rabbit has been successfully accomplished at my house. A little wild rabbit about a fortnight old was rescued from a small stream near a warren on the Lickey Hills. He was unable to lap, but was induced to suck a bit of rag soaked in milk. At this time he was about the size of a tennis ball and weighed 2i oz. ; now he is six months old and weighs 2i lb. He is quite strong and healthy, can jump 3i ft., and scampers about the room with amazing rapidity. He is very inquisitive and destructive, rarely ever still, without any vice, and fond of playing with the children, with whom he is quite tame, but not with strangers. His wild instincts are shown by his persistent attempts to scratch and burrow and to squeeze himself into all sorts of holes and corners, and if a distant sound is detected by his very sensi- tive ears he trembles violently and prepares for flight. He is quite clean in his habits, and his brown coat is odourless. He eats crushed oats, with all kinds of green leaves, also chestnuts, custard, rice pudding, tomato, orange, apples, bananas, chocolate, &c. He laps a little milk every morning, and out of a tumbler of water every evening, and takes no harm. He is a most successful pet, and his loss would be keenly felt by the household.—I am, Sir, &c.,
Arden, Barnt Green, March 21st. War. HADLEY.
Previous page
