How to Tell the Birds from the Flowers and Other Woodcuts · Chapter
The Bunny; The Tunny explained
This chapter highlights the confusion between bunnies and tunnies, pointing out that superficial naturalists mistake their heads and tails due to carelessness.
What happens
This chapter highlights the confusion between bunnies and tunnies, pointing out that superficial naturalists mistake their heads and tails due to carelessness.
Themes in this chapter
Wordplay and Homophones
The chapter plays on the similar sounds of 'bunny' and 'tunny' to create confusion.
Humor and Absurdity
The absurd idea of swapping heads and tails between a bunny and a tunny is presented humorously.
Characters to notice
- the Birds
Referenced as 'superficial naturalists' who misidentify bunnies and tunnies.
Key passages
“The superficial naturalists have often been misled, By failing to discriminate between the tail and head: It really is unfortunate such carelessness prevails, Because the Bunnies have their heads where Tunnies have their tails.”
Shallow observers frequently confuse bunnies and tunnies because they cannot tell the tail from the head, leading to the mistaken belief that a bunny's head is where a tunny's tail is.
Summarizes the core confusion and critique of careless naturalists.