I did not blame them. They had all been witnesses of amusing rabbit fights in which the two combatants would take their station opposite each other, warily watching to see which could get the first jump. The advantage was not to jump highest, but to jump first. The first one in the air as they came down, would give a dreadful kick with his hind legs at his opponent’s body. So heating and so wearing was this form of contest, that in a few seconds the two combatants were completely overcome, and the air was full of kicked-off hair. Retiring to a little distance from each other, they would both lie flat on their stomachs on the cool earth, then, after a time, would rise for another round that I always promptly stopped.
I hope I am not too hard on the pretty creatures, but this particular set I had was very bad. When they had young ones they were worse than ever. A mother rabbit would viciously tear open the side of a baby rabbit belonging to another mother, and I have seen them snap at and try to kill young birds.
Raggylug, the only well-behaved one, was so bitten by Candytuft that he became afflicted by a huge swelling on the back of his head. One of the guineapigs found the niche between the swelling and the top of Raggylug’s head a good resting-place, and it was amusing to see the little creature lying there, quite undisturbed by good, patient Raggy.
I put sulphur ointment on the swelling, but it did not improve; and I was just about to have him killed when, one day as he was sunning himself out in the garden, Candytuft rushed at him and despatched him.
It was almost impossible to keep the rabbits apart. They were as quick as dogs in leaping through open doors, and flying at each other. I made up my mind to scatter my rabbits, and found good homes for them all. I trembled when I thought of what the little girls would say, but I wrote them an apologetic and explanatory letter, and to my relief, they took the affair very philosophically.
I have never kept rabbits since; but if ever I had sufficient room, I would really enjoy having a few pairs of the pretty creatures—separate, not together.
Purple Gallinule
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