Beeton's book of poultry and domestic animals - Thurman Lodge ...

Tin: BASBIT.
that seemed to explain the mystery was that a lad who had
taken some pains about our rabbits, and who used to advise ua
as to the best method of fastening the stable at night, wore his
arm in a sling for several weeks afterwards."
Instances are not wanting to prove that the tame as well as
the wild rabbit wiU sometimes exhibit considerable courage.
The following paragraph, taken from a recent number of the
Times, is no bad illustration of tliis :
" A few evenings ago, Mr. Parfrey, of Glutton, who is an
amateur breeder of rabbits, heard an unusual noise, and, on
going to the spot whence the sound proceeded, saw a desperate
battle fought in the rabbit-hutch, between one of his rabbits
and a large-sized rat. He watched the combatants for a few
moments with great interest, and saw the rabbit catch hold of
the rat by the back of its neck, turn it upside down, and then
with its forepaws rip up its antagonist, and nearly sever its
head from the body. The rabbit, however, did not escape
with a whole skin, for, afber the fight, it was discovered that
it had received several bites about the breast and head, but not
of a severe character. The rat was one of the largest bam rats
ever seen in the neighbourhood. The rabbit was a folly-grown
one, with young ones."
—
toe or BAEBir-FiT.