14 



In disposition and character they were very difiFerent. "Tiney"was very 

 quiet and undemonstrative ; but " Jack " was an excitable creature, as lively aa 

 possible, and very affectionate. They began to eat food themselves in about a 

 fortnight, when they were fed with sowthistle, dandelion, clover, parsley, and 

 lettuce. Their favourite food was sowthistle, but with this they did not forget to 

 look out for their milk, and if they were not quickly attended to when they 

 wanted it, they would come and beat the bed until they awoke me and got it. 

 They were most lively and active during the night. It was very amusing to see 

 them jumping and scampering about, as playful as kittens, but they were always 

 safely in their box in the morning, generally retiring to it about five or six o'clock. 



They grew very fast and looked well, but when they had been a month in the 

 house, the lively Jack was seized with fits. He would begin to run about with 

 his head on one side, and then suddenly turn round and round until he fell down 

 exhausted and panting. Various remedies were tried in vain. The fits got worse 

 and worse, and although between the attacks the poor little thing was as patient 

 as possible, licking my hands and liking to be nursed, it became necessary at last 

 to resort to chloroform. 



The survivor " Tiney " was soon afterwards put into a large pen out of doors, 

 with two little rabbits as companions. They agreed pretty well for a time, but 

 one morning poor Tiney was found in a sad plight ; his fur was badly torn off, 

 and his skin much scratched, too. He was brought into the house again, and was 

 nursed for three weeks, until he was quite well. He was ever after terrified at 

 the sight of a rabbit. 



Once Tiney escaped into the wood near the house, and it was thought he was 

 lost irretrievably. He was found, however, lying on a tuft of dead grass. He lay 

 quite still for me to catch him, and seemed quite pleased to come back into the 

 house. 



It might be said of him, as the poet Cowper said of his namesake, his own pet 



hare "Tiney" : — 



" His diet was of wheaten bread, 

 And milk, and oats, and straw ; 

 Thistles, or lettuces instead. 

 With sand to' scour his maw. 



On twigs of hawthorn he regal'd. 



On pippin's russet peel ; 

 And, when his juicy salad fail'd, 



Sliced carrot pleased him well ; 



and swedes and mangolds, too, for the matter of that, and any wholesome green 

 food that presented itself. 



This Tiney, however, had higher instincts. He became accustomed to the 

 luxuries of household life. He was brought into dinner every day, behaved him- 

 self with great propriety, and ate what was presented to him. Seated on my lap, 

 or by especial favour on the table, he would remain quite still, and eat off his own 

 plate. Tapioca and custard puddings he seemed to like best, but he would eat 

 any milk pudding, oatmeal biscuits, bread, bread sauce, onion sauce, potatoes, 

 cream cheese, cheese and pastry. On Christmas Day he ate plum pudding, with 

 custard, and seemed thoroughly to enjoy it. Tiney did not seem to mind the smell 



