St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-06-30
a PuGNAClOUS RABBIT.
Deeds of Prowess Performed by a Wonder
fully Made Texas Jack.

Deeds of Prowess Performed by a Wonder
fully Made Texas Jack.
The rabbit is known to the student
of natural history as the most timid-
perhaps cowardly-creature OF the
animal kingdom. It's habits and its
form indicate that it was never in
tended by nature to do battle with
other animals The rabbit remains
concealed by day, and comes out by
twilight in search of food. Pursued
by dogs it always takes fight, and
often runs into the hole of the wood
chuck, skunk, fox, or weasel-ln the
last three cases often falling victim
to the inhabitant of the burrow. The
Texas iack-rabbit is peculiar species
of the hare family, possessing long,
slender legs, indicating rapid locomo-
ton and capacity for making long
leaps. The greatest terror to the
s'iackn is the fast-running dog, from
which he always runs with all the
speed nature has given him. When
DIR. J. II. Leslie, of this city, related
his recent experiences with Texas
rabbit, and related how it whipped all
the dogs in Carondelet to a party OF
friends, there was scarcely man in
the circle who was willing to believe
it, because it was al unnatural reason
ing. 1t was contrary to the history OF
either of the animals, but the
doctor said it was true and offered tc
wager any sum that he had a Texas
s'iack'' rabbit that would fight any dog
in the city. He was not SO sure thai
the rabbit could whip all the dogs II
town, but he was certain that he would
fight.
Several weeks ago. said DR.. Leslie
''a lady friend of my wife, living II
Texas, sent our little son jack
rabbit for birthday present. On tax
ing the animal to my home in Caron
delet we found it thoroughly domestl
Gated, and it seemed to be perfectl.
delighted with its new surrounding
in the city. 1t soon got on familla
terms with the boy, and would follow
him around all day, sometimes Jump
ing into the little wagon he played with
riding until tired, and then jumping
out again. have fine hunting do
at home who seems to be very lealou
of the Texas Importation, and n
showed his disapproval OF the rabbit
presence by running over it at ever
opportunity. Well, the rabbit got tire
of being snubbed by the dog, and Sur
4. iy,f ri
tackled the dog and whipped hin
Jumping on the dogs back 1t clutche
his neck with its teeth and fastene
its claws firmly in his side and bach
The dog was powerless to defen
himself, so he howled for assistance
When they were parted the rabo
was locked up. My wife told me
the battle when | went home IN I'll
evening and / determined to give IL
dog another chance. Accordingly Q
Monday morning dropped the rabb
down in the yard beside the dog 4
quick as fash the attack was mac
by the rabbit, as on the previous da
and the dog was whipped the secor
time. The neighbors brought in the
dogs. and all shared the fate OF n
dog. l examined the rabbit close
and | found that it was an extraordi
airy one. The lower jaw OF the COZ
mon rabbit is flat and smooth. Ih
rabbit has two sharp tusks on Il
lower jaw, each of them three-quai
ers of an inch in length. In this
resembles the cat, and might az
that the manner of attacking the d.
is also after tine style OF the feline sp
cies. When it fights its long ears al
laid fiat on the back of the neck. al
it strikes with its claws at the VII
parts of the dog in this latter respe
having the instincts and seeming trai
ing of a professional squirrel fightt
1t is, indeed, a curious freak of natui
for which am wholly unable to a
count.-.St Lonis Globe Democrat.