Rabbits 99 



In the larger warrens to have plump rabbits and 

 saleable, feeding in the autumn and winter is abso- 

 lutely necessary; and there seems little doubt that 

 the best thing is the carrot. Not only is it eaten with 

 relish, but also it is fattening and nourishing. More- 

 over, it does not tend to pot-belly that ruin of 

 rabbits which is the effect of cabbage, turnips, and 

 other more flatulent vegetables. In a large warren 

 with which I am familiar, there has not been a single 

 case of disease, except among hares, which every now 

 and then are picked up dead ; and the owner attributes 

 this to a plentiful use of wheat straw. Little bunches 

 theredl" are left dangling in the wind under a thatch 

 covering, where they keep quite dry. Rabbits come 

 out o' nights and nibble the ends, and lick the rock- 

 salt set near. But (it should be added) the warren is 

 not overcrowded, and annually almost a clean sweep 

 is made of it, and new blood is imported from the 

 neighbouring plantations to prevent in-breeding. The 

 warren, too, has the inestimable advantage of being 

 within easy distance of a town ; so that if the poulterer 

 telegraphs his order (say) at nine in the morning, he 

 may at twelve have on his counter a plentiful supply 

 of rabbits. Three hours before they were nibbling 

 carrots in the field ; and where this is possible the 

 rabbit-farmer competes on favourable terms with the 

 importer. 



