Mike Abernathy, age Ll, of Mekinney, Tex., For his question:

How many toes does a rabbit have on each foot?

The left hind foot of a cottontail rabbit should have five little toes, each ending in a sturdy claw. This, of course, is the lucky rabbit foot that some people trust to save them from mumps and measles, collisions and other catastrophes. Most animals of the bunny group have five toes on each front foot and five on each hind foot, but not all of them.

The snowshoe rabbit, who is really a hare, has five toes on each front foot and only four toes on each hind foot. This may disqualify his left hind foot from becoming a charm in somebody's pocket. This would be lucky for the snowshoe rabbit and other bunnies with only four toes on each hind foot.