The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1896-05-14
EARS or n RksBlT.
Different Positions In Which They Car
Them--sty.es for Eating and Running.


Them--styies for Eating and Running.
''Did you ever see rabbits sar.
stand mp like that?" demanded Uncle
Tom, Tipping the ears of toy tina,
Dolly held in her hand.
Eyes, indeed!" answered Dolly
promptly, pointing TO the picture Of
rabbit in a book that lay at her side.
The little girl had bought pattern
Of rabbit at the store and with Bit
Of white canton-fannel and two red
and white buttons for eyes she had
fashioned ribbit for little Ted that
was as like as life. Everything was
finished now except the ears, ard
.hese, daintily lined with pink, Dolly
was in the act of putting into their
proper places. She had bestowed great
care on placing these useful members
correctly, and for that purpose she had
hunted up the book, which she knew
contained an admirable picture Of .
ribbit.
Initiating this picture as accurately
as possible she mad fastened one ear,
setting IL on the head in perfectly
upright position, and now she was
holding the other to It's place on the
opposite side, and was eyeing II a.
arms length to decide IL the two wers
"a pair
UScle Tom took the book ard exam,
sned the picture critically; then laugh
ing, he said:
"Why, Dolly, the rabbit in the pic.
ture is sitting still, nibbling at o cab.
bage leaf; Of course his ears stand
straight up. But this one that yer
have made is running at full speed and
inst In the act of making leap. A
rabbit in that position should have hi.
ears lying back from his head, almoss
parallel with his body"
"Does the wind blow them baclSas
be runs9" asked Dolly, making the a!
teration without further question.
That" said her uncle, much
amused, sis one explanation, perhaps.
but there is another and / think bet.
teS one, which the naturaiists sug.
gest."
turning OfCE Tic ithfGo VI tuC piV
ture-book he pointed first to the pic.
ture of fox, then to one of q wolf.
and then TO pictures Of other beasts OF
prey Of various kinds.
These animals" (" he explained, indi.
eating the ears Of each, shave the ear.
pointed forward as they proceed. Can
you suggest any reason for the diffes-
ence?"
Dolly shook her head, but listened
sttentively.
"Well, continued Uncle Tom, "you
know that the rabbit, or hare, is a very
timid animal and never attacks or pur.
sues another animal, and that il feeds
only on vegetable diet. WheneEer.
therefore, ii is fond 20 be In a state OF
motion the chances are that II
Is fleeing from some enemy In
she rear. II is to its inter.
ests, then, TO keep its attention
steadily fixed on sounds preceding
from that c-,srter. For this purpose
nature has taught 1t 70 adjust ifs ears.
Or its ear trumpet, as the long outside
part of the organ Of hesring really ID,
20 as to best collect all the sound
waves, and to offer the least resistance
20 their passage TO the inner organ
In such position the ears would nat.
urslly be fiattened back against its
head, ss you now have them.
snow, when a wolf goes In search Of
his prey his thoughts ere intent on
what is before him He concentrates
his attention on the sounds that may
lead him in tho direction of his victim.
His ear trumpets, therefore, are turned
forward TO catch the sounds that may
aid him in his chase"
"And so IL is with al animals that
prey upon others. Detroit Free Press