On a recent house call in bridport Mr Ray Poole of the Loft antiques in Gundry lane discovered unknown to himself a rare little gem.
Not quite sure what he had found Mr Poole contacted the British rodent and rabbit society chairman Mr Charles D Homberg R.F.F. and was told it was in fact a rare Marshwood Vale Horned Rabbit (Oryctolagus Wurzelus Cornuculus) extinct since the late 18thC.
Mr Homberg said that it is the only known stuffed trophy head but he does have a skull which was found while ditching work was being carried out by council workers in the 1920s near Pilsdon.
They were always a rare sub species and were prone to getting their horns tangled in tree roots and brambles then letting out a high pitched yelp.
The head is available for veiwing at the Loft Antiques.
