THE WRESTLERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21912, 22 September 1934, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE WRESTLERS

By HAZEL CURTIS-SMITH, Maungaturoto. North Auckland. Aged 17 year*. When I read the account of the animal wrestling bouts in "Boys and Girls" page on Saturday it recalled to my mind a time when I witnessed a similar scene staged by two rabbits. I had been camping out in a nikau whare in tho bush and had spent a happy few days with my chums watching the birds and animals about us. We had learned many of their secrets, their calls and other interesting things about them. Early one morning as I lay in my ferny bed thinking how very quiet and still it was, I suddenly heard a little scuffling among the dead leaves, and then two little white-tailed bunnies ran past the door. As the rustling among the leaves continued for some time, I decided to investigate. 1 quietly donned my clothes and emerged from the whare, having succeeded in not disturbing the other sleepers in the whare. (I prefer stalking alone.) I looked in the direction of the rustling leaves and there I saw the owners of the little white bobtails. Two rabbits were energetically engaged in what to all intents appeared an animal wrestling bout. I gradually drew nearer the "ring" (with the Aid of the stalking movements I have so far accomplished.) They were not big rabbits. In my imagination I thought them to be erring schoolboys having a before-school tumbling. For quite a while one rabbit was winning and then he " dumped " his opponent. A series of "strangeholts "and "half-Nelsons " were energetically applied by tho other rabbit, and the scoro was three falls to two when over the hillside bounded a grownup rabbit. Father rabbit, 1 presume. Ho looked down on tho bunnies in the "ring" and sat perfectly still and watched. In the ring things were getting very exciting, but one bunny showed signs of tiredness. Father rabbit rtow scampered toward them. When tho combatants saw him they appeared rather sheepish—at least I should say rabbitish —and father hopped in between them and gave first one a push and then the other, as if to say, "Stop! and home you go before I whip the both of you." Just as a human father might act. The little rabbits looked about them and then ran off up the hillside with father rabbjt close behind. I have seen many wrestles between cur cat and pup. They act like yours do, Miss Morton. Pup has wrestles with an old black hen too. The hen seems to always win until she attempts to run away and then pup is after her like a shot and usually captures a few of her .tail feathers. One dav the hen and pup had a dirt fight. They both showered earth all over each other until they both were exhausted. Animals indeed do afford much amusement for us , with their funny ways.