RABELAIS 



4907 



RACCOON 



Domesticated Rabbits. The texture of rabbit 

 fur has been changed through domestication, 

 and in ten distinct varieties the color varies 

 from white to black. Changes in the appear- 

 ance of the ears have also developed, some be- 

 in:: small, erect and stiff, and others broad, soft 

 and hanging. 



The Belgian hare, one of the best-known 

 species in America, is a true rabbit. It is a 

 large animal, weighing about ten pounds, and 

 has a broad head which tapers to the nose; 

 long ears are thin and transparent, and the 

 are bright brown. This rabbit is easily 

 d, and its flesh is considered excellent. 

 Th- lop-eared rabbit, distinguished by its long 

 which are about twelve inches in length, 

 is the oldest fancy variety of rabbit. It re- 

 quires much careful attention. The small 

 h rabbit, which weighs only four pounds, 

 is one of the smallest of domestic rabbits. It 

 is hardy and beautifully colored, the fur being 

 a combination of white and of black, blue or 

 lemon. The Angora rabbit, like Angora goats 

 and cats, has a silky coat of long, white hair 

 which can be cut and woven. This species is 

 iy. Then there are the dark, silky- 

 haired Siberian; the Himalayan, valued for it- 

 which closely resembles ermine; the large 

 Patagonian and Flemish rabbits; the fancy 7- 

 l>, and the delicate, white Pole, weighing 

 only three pounds. 



Care of Rabbit Pets. It is by the ears that 

 one must always handle a bunny, as rabbits are 

 affectionately called, for the body bones are 

 d licate, especially in the young. If secured 

 :i over six weeks old they can feed them- 

 selves. A little bran mixed with hot water or 

 hot milk and a pinch of salt should be given 

 two or three times a day. Occasionally 

 rhy may have turnip tops, cabbage, let tun 

 's or carrots, of which they are very fond. 

 Too much vegetable food, however, will make 

 them Mckly. After they are six months old 

 tlirv should have a larger proportion of dry 

 food. Oats given once a day, a littl. \ 

 and tli n, a few baked potatoes or ! 



r a change, will keep them in good 



h. They must be allowed to run about 



exercise at least once a day, and can ml 



ii must then be kept that cats, rats or dogs 



do not attack tin in. 



Mftaf ; 



fs Rabbit Farming. 



RABELAIS, rab'lch', FRANCOIS (about 1483- 



h humorist and satirist, one of 



greatest literary figures in France during 



the sixteenth century. His most celebrated 

 work, Gargantua and Pantagruel, is one of the 

 earliest masterpieces of French prose. It re- 

 lates the adventures of Gargantua, a giant with 

 an enormous appetite, whose gluttony had 

 made him notorious, and the amazing deeds of 

 Pantagruel, the ''king of Drunkards." The 

 work is a mingling of pure banter and keen and 

 witty ridicule of politics, the Church and edu- 

 cation as the}' existed in the author's day. It 

 was published in sections, the first book, Pan- 

 tagruel, appearing about 1533. 



Rabelais was by turns priest, physician and 

 story-teller. He was born at Chinon, and was 

 educated in the monastery schools. He joined 

 the Franciscan Order and became a priest, but 

 his ardent pursuit of the Hebrew, Arabic and 

 Greek and Roman classics offended his brother 

 monks, and after living for a time in the ab- 

 bey of the Benedictines, he gave up monastic 

 life. In 1530 he began the study of medicine at 

 Montpellier, where in 1537 he was granted a 

 doctor's degree. In the meantime he was ap- 

 pointed head physician of the great charity 

 pital at Lyons, a position which he held until 

 about 1536. Later he was physician to the town 

 of Metz, and shortly before his death served as 

 curate in the parish of Meudon. 



RACCOON, rakoon', or COON, a greedy, in- 

 quisitive little American animal, closely re- 

 lated to the bear, although of small size. It 

 is found from Canada to the tropics. It is a 

 midnight prowler, and coon hunts on moonlight 



I UK RACCOON 

 nights are popular in the South. Raccoon 



lloh. roa.-trd. is rnliMdiTi-d a dilirirv. ;ind ::; 



colonial days sleigh robes, overcoats and caps 



of coonskin were highly prized. Raccoon fur 



is -nil used to some extent for these purposes. 



I.H a raccoon farm at New Sydney, Nova 



the Canadian production >f roon fur 



in 1011 was valued at over $7,000. 



Raccoons measure about thirty-fun tn< 

 length, including the tail. They weigh from 



