Friday, July 30, 2010

Open Mic


Down at the rabboratory Friday's entertainment is often open mic. There can be jokes, and songs, the telling of disapproving stories with pantomime is quite popular; there is always a wide variety. Here is Harriet doing her imitation of Amelia.

Look at that swoop! you'd think she was part lop!
Astonishing control of the auricular muscles and nerves.

When Harriet first joined the warren her ears were very straight never to the sides, about 4 weeks ago I noticed that one was distinctly floppy. I even considered that it was injured or she was ill, but she seemed fine in all other ways. These days it is not all odd to see Harriet and Amelia with the similar ear arrangements. Is this a case of rabbits picking up each other's mannerisms? or is Harriet just much more relaxed than she used to be?.....another mystery.

I think we have two Earometer specialists in the house....



15 comments:

Lisa said...

That is absolutely amazing. I've never seen a non-half-lop hang their ear so low. I thought amelia was incredible, Harriet is giving her a run for her money. Perhaps this is another of their many ways of competing?

I'm not moving very far. It's about 45 min from where I am now, give or take depending on traffic. I'm kind of too broke to hire a mover, so I think I'm going to borrow my parents' car a few times over the next couple weeks, and move my stuff that way. Very scary, kind of stressful.

Can't wait to see the buns binky all over the carpet, though.

Annette Tait said...

you can never have too many experts in a house (even on the same topic).
Is Harriet lowering the same ear as Amelia or the opposite one?
The answer, perhaps, will be either in harmony or in competition (I think).

The Fab Furs said...

In the first pic Amelia seems to be critiquing Harriet's presentation: perhaps since she has been in the warren longer, Amelia is higher in the bun hierarchy and Harriet is trying to fit in by taking direction from one of the "elders".

Crafty Green Poet said...

I love the idea of Bunny Open Mike Night. Amelia and Harriet movingtheir ears in synch would be entertainment for a whole evening!

Unknown said...

Like cheerleading? http://doublecatbatik.blogspot.com

Tamsin said...

Rabbit's cool down by diverting extra blood flow to their ears (less fur there means more heat loss). Extra blood means heavier ears so hot weather can turn a rabbit on the edge of the to-lop-or-not-to-lop line in to a lop. Once they've lopped it seems to have long term effects on the muscles and they are more prone to lopping even if the weather cools.

She does have a bit of a lop look about her.. maybe there is some in her family tree.

Or it could just be a case of one up man-ship between bunnies, lol.

d. moll, l.ac. said...

T- you are brilliant! it was a very hot day that I first noticed her ear lop!!!

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

I like how in the top pic, Amelia is watching in the background, kind of like, "Are you making fun of me?"

PJ said...

I see Shakesbun in the round in your future, "To lop or not to lop, that is the questbun..."

RG said...

The Princess does that now and then too. But not wings like Amelia.

Gads I hope we don't start open-mic time for buns. The cat will join in, BL won't be far behind and there will be no dinner for poor old RG.

Christina said...

Perhaps Harriet was just tired of holding both ears up??

Friend of the Animals said...

interesting, and very cute. wish i understood rabbit behavior more.

Glenna said...

Very fascinating mirroring behavior! Maybe arranging one's ears similarly is like smiling?

Unknown said...

Hey...I did have a lop with a lopsided ear and this Harriet reminded me so much of her. Happy week ahead.

Erin said...

Pumpkin does that too even though she's not a lop. I always thought she was imitating Patch, but maybe she was just hot!