The Burgess Animal Book for Children

blue sky when Peter Rabbit and his cousin, Jumper the Hare, arrived at the place in the Green Forest where

e days, as you know, so we will begin school at once. Before either of you ask any questions, I am going to ask some myself. Pe

ed as if he didn't know just how to begin. Old Mother Nat

k, for I've never seen myself. I suppose in a way I look like all the rest of the Rabbit family. I hav

more gray in winter. My ears are longer for my size than are those of most animals, but really not very long after all, not nearly as long for my size as my cousin Jumper's are for his size. My tail doesn't amount to much because it is so short that it is hardly worth calling a tail. It is so sh

little paths all through it just big enough for Mrs. Peter and myself. None of our enemies can get at us there, excepting Shadow the Weasel o

n fast for a short distance, but only for a short distance. That is why I like thick brush and bramble-tangles. There I can dodge. I don't know any one who can beat me at dodging. If Reddy Fox or Bowser the Hound surprises me away from the dear Old Briar-patch I run for the nearest

f that cousin of yours, the Marsh Rabbit who

t he was. Jumper the Hare was all interest at o

d Old Mother Nature. "Now take a look at your cousin,

s are very long. In summer he wears a brown coat, but in winter he is all white but the tips of those long ears, and those are black. Because his coat changes so, he is called the varying Hare. He likes t

aid Old Mother Nature. "You have made only one m

inued Old Mother Nature, "you forgot to mention the fact that Jumper never hi

trees and bushes. I suppose Reddy Fox may be fast enough to catch me in the open, but he can't do it where I can dodge around tree

hat later on," said she. "Now, each of you hold up

nd then at the other's. "They look to me very much alike, only Jumper's is a

t you see that Jumper's foot is a great deal broader than yours, Pete

Mother Nature had said. Jumper's foot really was quite

eclared Old Mother Nature. "Can you gues

ad. "Not unless it was to

u ought to know by this time that I never give anybody anything without

ng that the hair grows out long

know that you depend on your legs to get away from your enemies. You can run over the deep snow where your enemies break through. Peter, though he is small and lighter than you are, cannot go where you can. But Peter doesn't need to depend always on his legs to save his life. There

hy is that cousin of ours so fon

ite so long, his ears are a little smaller, and his tail is brownish instead of white. He is a poor runner and so in time of danger he takes to the water. For that matter, he goes swimming for pleasure. T

the water like Jerry Muskr

Peter makes her nest for your babies, and Mrs. Jumper makes a nest for Jumper's babies. It is made of grass and lined with soft fur which Mrs. Ra

e. "My babies don't have their eyes open whe

t?" said he. "Why, my babies have their eyes

the difference," said she. "I guess

per isn't the biggest of our family,"

two cousins way out in the Great West. They are as much bigger than Jumper as Jumper is bigger than you, Peter. But I haven't time to tell you about them now. If you really want to learn about them, be

ng to it. In fact, he left in such a hurry that he forgot to say good-by to Old Mother Nature. But she didn't mind, for she quite understood Peter's feelings, and she laughed when