PET RABBITS, CAVIES, AND MICE. 3I 



in it. This colour gives the animal a rich appearance. 

 The Standard says " rufus red." Call it that if you 

 will. The beauty of such a specimen is enhanced 

 by the presence of dark hairs in the fur, distributed 

 wavily over the body. This is called wavy ticking, 

 and is greatly sought after by the best breeders 

 and judges. Strange to relate, however, notwithstand- 

 ing the high merit which attaches to a golden tanned 

 rabbit with wavy ticking, the number to be met with is 

 not at all commensurate with the value of the specimens 

 possessing it. The reason is not far to seek. Wavy 

 ticking in the golden tan is extremely difficult to get, 

 especially in bucks, and it is a somewhat rare experience 

 to come across one possessing such a point of excellence 

 in a pronounced manner. Most of the golden tan bucks 

 are plainly, or what the Fancy calls evenly, ticked. 

 Next in importance comes length of body and limbs. 

 Unless this characteristic is pronounced the specimen 

 stands little chance of success in a show to-day. A 

 short, stumpy specimen is soon passed over. Some of 

 the lithe and fine boned Belgians present the appear- 

 ance of a whippet dog in general build of body and 

 limbs. The fore legs should be long, fine in bone, 

 beautifully clear in the tan, and pointed at the foot. To 

 see a Belgian with a spreading foot is but to do so to 

 condemn it. The hind feet should be long and rich 

 and deep in the tanning, the toes also being finely 

 pointed not spreading; and many breeders and exhibi- 

 tors, either justifiably or to the contrary, remove the 

 white fur to be found under the feet and between the 

 toes, as it quite spoils the outline of tan colour. How 

 they remove it may be left to their discretion, but it is 

 certain it is done. A good sound tan chest, utterly free 

 from dark hairs is a point of excellence. So is a well 

 carried pair of ears, with rich and distinct lacing or a 

 black rim which runs for a couple of inches along the 

 tips of the ears. The proper carriage of the ears is semi- 

 erect. They should be well covered with rich tan fur, 

 and be about five inches in length. Bad carriage of 

 ears in a Belgian Hare is a defect. Shape is also a 

 very great point in a Belgian. Some allude to it as 

 " style." We like to see a long, thin body, which,, 

 when drawn out will, as we have said, resemble the 

 whippet dog. The flank should be well tucked up, the 



