"Oolong (named after the oolong variety of tea) was a domestic rabbit owned by photographer Hironori Akutagawa. The rabbit was mainly famous for it's ability to balance a variety of objects on his head."
Animal: RABBIT/HARE
Characteristics: Scatter-brained, headstrong, troublesome. Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny are clearly thoughtless, greedy products of failed contraception. Hares are generally seen as even more bonkers than rabbits thanks to their March activities, but possibly also because they have never been domesticated in the same way as rabbits. In LGR Hare usually speaks before he thinks - well-intentioned but perennially boisterous. Don’t get me started on Watership Down.
Reality: Ancient fertility symbols are there for a reason, but children’s books can’t talk about sex so instead rabbits are stupid and numerous - the woodland equivalent of sheep. BONUS FACT: rabbits can’t vomit! Even if they’re pissed.
Exception: Both the eponymous Little Grey Rabbit and Peter Rabbit’s well-behaved sisters stick with traditional Victorian virtues of modesty and kindness. In fact, all the stereotypes described above seem confined to male characters*. Sadly, many female animal characters are lacking even a second dimension (e.g. Vixen’s role in AOFW seems solely to be rescued by Fox and then have his kids), their personalities are
merely summed up as “the girl one”. One in the eye for countryside feminism!
Animal: BADGER
Characteristics: Grumpy bachelors, but wise and steadfast. Possible gay agenda.
Reality: Fierce mustelid that is equally sociable and solitary, depending on what sort of mood it’s in.
Exception: Mr Badger in FMF does have a small family of his own (tiny compared to the Weasels’ enormous clan), possibly due to a regular dosage of that perennial social grease, booze: ‘Cider’, said Badger, ‘is especially good for Badgers. We take it as medicine - one large glass three times a day with meals, and another at bedtime.’
