A snake and
a rabbit were racing along a pair of intersecting forest pathways one day,
when they collided at the intersection. They immediately began to argue with
one another as to who was at fault for the mishap.
When the snake remarked that he had been blind since birth, and thus should
be given additional leeway, the rabbit said that he, too, had been blind
since birth. The two animals then forgot about the collision and began
commiserating concerning the problems of being blind.
The snake said that his greatest regret was the loss of his identity. He had
never been able to see his reflection in the water, and for that reason did
not know exactly what he looked like, or even what he was. The rabbit
declared that he had the same problem. Seeing a way that they could help
each other, the rabbit proposed that one feel the other from head to toe,
and then try to describe what the other animal was.
The snake agreed, and started by winding himself around the rabbit. After a
few moments, he announced, "You've got very soft, fuzzy fur, long ears, big
rear feet, and a little fuzzy ball for a tail. I think that you must be a
bunny rabbit!"
The rabbit was much relieved to find his identity, and proceeded to return
the favor to the snake. After feeling about the snake's body for a few
minutes, he asserted, "Well, you're scaly, you're slimy, you've got beady
little eyes, you squirm and slither all the time, and you've got a forked
tongue. I think you're a lawyer!"