The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-16

The rabbit is not obliged to bring home chick
ems or field mice for the family supper. He
does not need to study mathematics In order
to ind out how to carry dozen chickens or
days bag OF field mice in his mouth at one
time. He seems to be able to maintain him
self In high spirits on his modest diet OF salad.
Mr.. Long makes note Of the way In which the
rabbit endeavors to strike terror into the
hearts OF those hc meets casually rabbit
meeting man thumps upon the earth with
his left hind foot and waits for the man to be
terrified. II the man preserves his presence
OF mind and regards the rabbit steadily. tho
rabbit s ready to enter into friendly relations
with him. We recall a story OF an early Lord
Mayor OF London who once went hunting.
The cry arose. THE hare comes the hare
comesl" whereupon the Lord Mayor raised
himself In his stirrups drew his sword,
and cried. let him comet Let
him comet thank my God fear him not"
He was Lord Mayor OF valor. and II Is safe to
say that any rabbit-even one from Germany.
where rabbits grow as big rs dnchshunds--
might have thumped upon the earth with his
foot for long time without causing him to
banch To study the rabbit properly. Mr.
Long says. we must 60 out by moonlight to an
opening In the woods and there lie quietly.
The rabbits will come out. regard the inter-
loper. thump the earth with their hind feet In
order to test him. and. IL he stands tho ordeal.
proceed with their regular devices In the usual
manner. The best spot that Mr.. Long ever
found for watching them was on the shore OF
lake In Now Brunswick forest. Ono night
he saw one approach in series OF grotesdue
jumps. like kitten after its own tail. In the
midst OF one OF HE antics he discovered Mr.
Long. He was so surprised that he fell
down. In a second he was up again
sitting IN very straight on his launches paws
crossed. ears erect, eyes shining In fear and
curiosity. who are your" he was saying. as
plainly as a rabbit ever said IT, Mr.. Long kept
quiet. and presently the rabbit said to himself.
I'll try my scare on him" He thumpcd with
his radded hind foot on the soft ground. and the
sound really seemed big Mr. Long says. In the
dead stiffness. Mr. Long stood t. and the rab-
bit, probably feeling that so brave a man
ought TO be decently treated. went of and
brought back a lot Of companions. The whole
company proceeded to give most interesting
exhibition. Around and around they went"
says our author. here. there everywhere--the
woods seemed full OF rabbits they sour
ried around so. Every few minutes
the number increased. as some new ar
rival came flying In and gyrated around
like a brown fur pinwheel. They leaped
over everything In the clearing: they
lcupou ONtT tdCH O'nST uh u ltHp-
frog: they We'd with each other In the
high jump" There Ia an illustration OF
this curious and charming performance. Mr..
Long sits leaning against a tree. one hand In
his pocket his legs stretched comfortably out.
The glade Is flooded with moonlight: the stars
shine In the remote sky. Two OF the multi
tudinous rabbits ait regarding Mr.. Long as
though he we're the show. Another Is hopping
over the authors leg. A pair in the foreground
are having a boxing match. The text says
otthis: "Adueer sound. putt pnt- a put-a- puts
first drew nv attention to II. Two rabbits
were at the edge OF the ferns. standing up on
their hind legs. face to face. and apparently
cunning each other soundly. while they hoped
slowly around and around In a circle" The
author could not see the delivery OF the blows.
but he could hear the sound Of them as they
landed. The other chapters OF the hook are
equally entertaining. Remarkable are the
manifestations OF the Animal Kingdom as any
body may here very pleasantly learn.
In Child Verse" by John B. Tabb Small.
Maynard 4 Co. Boston,. we and the fancy OF
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