Hunters bag a high-bush rabbit

Sunday, 20 December 2009 05:00

December 20, 1897. The Regina Leader recounts the story of the hunters who bagged a high-bush rabbit.

Four redoubtable Regina sportsmen—Messrs. Dr. Parent, John Dawson, T.E. Martin and J.W. Smith—went down on Thursday to the McLean bushes for a two-day hunt. Game panned out badly, but fun was plentiful.

The principal item of game was what Ted Martin called "a high-bush rabbit." The beast had the body of a rabbit, but its wonderful feature was a well-formed, full-grown pair of wings, which appeared to have grown out immediately behind the shoulders.

Coming home on the train, the high-bush rabbit was the wonder of passengers, many of whom were from the sweetly innocent east and inclined to credit the tale related by the wicked conductor as he exhibited the article in each car—that it had been shot flying by one of the Regina quartet. The remains are now in Mr. J.W. Smith's possession and would puzzle the head of any naturalist, were he not acquainted with the simple fact that Mr. Martin had deftly sewn on the wings with white thread.