Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-06-08
Rabbits,

one OF the prettieSt sights OF the country l.
to be found on the outskirts of wood any fine
evening, particularly if the wood adjoinS a
grass held or a piece of young wheat. Rab-
bits are skipping about, feeding, and chasing
each other in all directions, but all provided
with an instantaneous mode of retreat, either
into the forest or into burrOw, should the oh
server make an incautiouS movement. If
suspicious, the rabbits merely squat and re-
main motIolleSS should their SurmiSe of dan
ger prove correct, one stamps loudly, and an
immediate stampede results. This curious
stamping may often be noted, and attentive
observation shows that it forms a kind of uni
Versal rabbit language, expressing on occasion
love, news OF abundant food, satisfaction,
danger, watchfulneSS a challenge TO combat.
and SO on through all the gamut of a rabbit
intelligence. Each of these states of feeling
has its appropriate stamp or stamps, and when
the public interest is involved as when tidings
OF danger are thus expressed, an almost in
Simultaneous Geographic communication
flashes through the community. Rabbits fight
In very singular manner, with perpetual re-
course TO what French boxers call the Saudte
Each endeavors to leap over the other in a
quel OF THIS KIND, and to kick his adverSary's
head in doing SO. These tactics, il most anus
ing to spectator, often infiict much pain
and injury upon the combatants, as they spring
over each other so quickly that the eye can
scarcely follow their movements. Another ex-
citing and common scene at harvesttime is to
watch the cutting OF the last few yards of
and round, momentarily contracting the
amount of shelter within until there is at length
a rush of bewildered rabbits among the men
boys, and dogs that beset the patch, on the
lookout for the escape of these animals. Loud
is the cheering and laughter, and great the
agility evinced by portly laborers and saga
clous sheep-dogs in pursuing the hapleSS terri
fed animals, but large proportion gets clear
OFF. There is no need to deScant on the enor-
nous numbers of rabbits annually exported
from Ostend to afford the British artisan a
savOry dinner at a. low price Regular rabbit
farms are maintained on the sand banks of the
Low Country, where the creatures are daily
led with grass and turnips like so many she 1p,
until their time comes to be sent over sea to
London or Grimsby in large fat hampers.
Dealers frequently keep them alive at these
ports under sheds until the demand grow,
brlsk. We have seen 200 Of them thus kept
and being black, gray, fawD-colored and the
IKE, they formed pretty sight. In one year
recently no fewer than 10000 rabbits were
sent l. ON OSteud to London weekly during
the season. Some 100000 more are annually
sold 10y the licensed game-deaers of lgIa nd
and " aies. Add TO these the en- Drmous mum
Der OF rabbits consumed throughout the coun-
try without con ing into the dealers mis-,
and then, computing their vaiue al he ow
ngufe OF shining each, the most Diet, rnin 81
farmers friend mast hesitate before he eAta.
nina es ;his pretty lace of amin ,ls, and de-
pTlyeS rural walks of one OF their grca5eSs
chai MS HarperS Weekly.