Evening star., 1949-11-23
This and That
By Charles E. TraceweH
"LANDOVER HILLS, Md.

"LANDOVER HILLS, Md.
Dear Sir:
IT was pleased with your comments on the
feeding habits of wild rabbits. II 1t would
be of interest, have observed a few rabbit
characteristics that tend to bear out your
observations.
Such delicacies as clover and cabbage will
J stand chance of acceptance if placed near
their runWayso without the human tail1t. I
have dropped carrots and apples from tree.
taking every possible precaution to prevent
contact with the food.
=, ,sIJndep such conditions, 3ottontails will eat
preferred items. We throw grain to the birds
daily, just in front of the house. and cotton
tails come up among the blue jays, cardinals
and doves, just before dark.
II have observed that both cottontails and
jack rabbits in recent years have become much
less likely to stop in the highway and fall
victims to automobiles. This is particularly
true of jack rabbits in the Western States
Instinct has been developed in the present
generations warning them not to stop and
investigate the bright lights, so that today
it is unusual to run over rabbit.
Rabbits will do strange things, in extreme
fright. I saw young jack rabbit run up q
moving machine into the lap of the driver.
when all but small patch Of the hay field
had been cut. Fleeing from prairie fires,
in farm buildings which they would never
approach under ordinary conditions
"As small boy was able to tame jack
rabbits caught few days after their eyes
were open. Cottontails were less inclined to
become tame. Young rabbits will respond
more favorably to child's overtures than
those Of an adult. With domestic rabbits 1t
Is different. I owned fine Flemish giant
which showed unusual attachment, and
would come upstairs to my room. reach up
and lick the back of my hand to awaken
me in the morning.
1.-The question of rabbit intelligence is diff
f1cult Sometimes their overpowering Curl
osity smothers that utterly remarkable gen.
eral adherence to natures promptings. But
in that they are often not unlike humans.
Sincerely. R. H. b.
The attraction of lights for animals, es-
pecially for insects, must go back to the
very beginnings Of the world.
Every one is familiar with the bugs" that
collect in an outdoor porch light.
Once year, or oftener, the glass globe
must be taken down and emptied Of the
hundreds of dead insects, whose lives would
have been longer if they had not succumbed
to the fatal lure Of the bright light.
The moth and the flame meet to the ex-
tinction Of the former. It is a story as old
as the hills, and always with the same sad
ending.
The observer over the centuries has won-
dered ceaselessly over the spectacle. He has
spun fine theories always calling into play
the irresistible lure of light We all respond
to it.
Even birds Hundreds of migrating species,
especially, the warblers, are killed each year
at lighthouses and other places where bright
lights tend to Swerve them OF their direct
paths.
Rabbits have special appeal to some
natures.
Perhaps the same people would like lambs,
but the latter are not as sensible as rabbits,
nor as easily handled.
The rabbit in its various forms, offers
fine playmate. The sanitation Is not easy,
but is mostly case of daily care. It is odd
that so many persons want animal pets but
do not seem to realize that these pets can
not get along without ceaseless sanitary
measures.
The wild rabbits that come to suburban
home gardens are usually good enough speci-
mems, and Offer much to the watcher In
most cases the less they are interfered with
the better. Perhaps, instead of fussing over
a few flowers and other plants they eat. it
would be better to let them have their share
than attempt to put out food for them.
They are essentially wild, and grow best on
wild foods, such as petunias. rose cane bark.
tree bark, carrots, lettuce, etc. It the home
gardener can think Of these things as foods.
as well as his own plants, then he will not
begrudge . hungry creature what 1t needs
In the cold.