The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-21
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION.
HORNED RhB9ItS.
A Specimen Quad with an Unlucky
Number OF Corneous Growths.

q specimen FOuoQ WIEN an UnlucRy
Number OF Corneous Growths.
From the Ctncinnati Times-star.
A rabbit with thirteen horns is at present
agitating the nAturalists OF this CITY. The
remains are at the natural history rooms,
whore they are being freely discussed, but
so lar no definite conclusions have been
reached beyond the fact that something
new and unheard Of has been discovered
The rabbit was brought back from a huns-
ing excursion a short time ago by Wilbur
Dubois, who is an enthusiastic sportsman
and naturalist as we'll as the United States
civil service examiner for this district, and
several companions, in the vicinity Of Ell
dorado, Kan. Mr. Dubois was seen at his
office in the government building and said:
II do not know much about this rabbit
except that it was killed near Eldorado,
Kan, last fall. !. with some companions,
was going out one morning on a hunt for
birds, when DR.. Armstrong with whom
was stopping, warned us to be careful when
we went through little valley, saying that
it was the home of the horned rabbit. OF
| course we laughed at his assertion, but he
assured US that there was species Of rab-
bits there that had horns We, however,
were out for birds, and not believing what
he said paid no attention to the rabbits
Of which we might have shot good many.
On my return the doctor questioned me
about Them and expressed disappointment
that we had not killed any. He then brought
out the one now in the possession of the
Natural History Society, and showed 1t to
me. 1t had thirteen horns, as you see. and
was such a curiosity that the doctor gave it
! to me, and brought it to this city. 1t is
the only specimen [ have seen, but AN
satisfied that there Is a family Of them
where this one came from"
A well-known naturalist Of this city next
sail: "The rabbit you speak of belongs to
that class known as remarkable If true l
have made a careful examination of the
above specimen and cannot classify it, aud
to me it is something remarkable, indeed.
have all the latest works on lower animals,
and in none of them can find such a thing
as a horned rabbit even limited OF. Mr.. Du-
| bois brought the animal to me, but | could
tell him nothing about il moro than shall
| tell you. Iregard the horns merely as the
mating together of sebaceouS hairs, as in
the case Of all horns. Their longitudinal
structure would suggest this to any
one. They are, l think, purely cutane-
Gus. They probably bent back easily
when the animal was alive, other wise it
could not eat, as they are crowded too close
10 the mouth for the food TO be grasped by
the small teeth. There is nothing abnormal
about the creature except these horns, and
if more specimens are discovered in the
future they will probably be classed as a
distinct race. The locality in which they
| are said TO be found would suggest that they
live in a secluded valley by themselves, and
| it is not at all unreasonable to look for mon
strosities in such places. The paradise birds
are the result of seclusion, and for long
| time were unknown to naturalists. Il may
be that very interesting species Of animals
| is about to be- added to the long list Of novN
elites that we have.
"There is, however, one exclamation for
the horns. The rabbit might have been in-
! jured, and the horns may be only proud
| he-h put forth by nature in the endeavor
| to heal the wounds. This position, however,
l do not think is tenabls, as there has never
been any other example of such horns found
! in rabbits in this vicinity, and then the
existence of other rabbits in the west with
like appendaSes would tend to show that
| they belong TO distinct race.
''In birds these horny projections are often
| found on different parts Of the body, and
ascribe them to injuries received In their
| flight. Mr.. Dubois once shot a woodcock,
and on examination found hard structure
as big as q cherry on the tip of its sternum.
1t this case the bird may have struck a tele.
| graph wire or some other obstacle and
! wounded itself, and as q result inflamma
| ton set In and a tumor was formed, which
OF last hardened. This tumor, to me, was
plainly the result of nature trying to repair
an injury and OVERRIDING the work. As
woodcocks fly by night, it is not unreason.
able SO suppose that it struck something.
Another instance happened to me a few
years ago. One evening about dusk no.
ticed field sparrow tumbling along the
| ground. l tried to catch it, but il eluded
my grasp, and at last took refuge in tuft
of grass. quietly placed my hat over the
grass and secured the bird, aud on examlna.
ton found tumor the size Of pea at the
base of the bill. OF course this would OBJ
struct the vision Of both eyes, aud hence the
spiral, uncertain flight Of the bird was
easily explained. This unnatural growth
ascribed to the bird striking wire in the
flight"
The horns Of the rabbit mentioned art
from half an inch to one and half inches
in length. They are punched about the
mouth in an irregular manner, and three Of
them have been broken off by frequent
landings. The specimen will be mounted