PET RABBITS, CAVIES, AND MICE. 57 



length of an Angora's coat, its tendency to become 

 matted unless constantly brushed, and the necessity for 

 extraordinary precautions as to the condition of the 

 rabbit's bedding, etc., combine to establish a set of con- 

 ditions which none but the most patient and painstaking 

 could possibly fulfil. Up to a very few years ago there 

 was only one kind of Angora (the white) bred. Even 

 now, under modern conditions, that variety holds sway, 

 although what are called blues and fawns are fairly 

 numerous. In very large shows classes are given for 

 coloured Angoras as well as whites; and we have seen 

 and awarded high honours to a really nice specimen of 

 Dutch-marked, which we understand was sold for export 

 to America at a substantial price. It will be advisable 

 to take some of the principal qualities of the breed, and 

 allude to them in detail. First, then, as a rabbit for 

 table it is not to be recommended. Not on any 

 objectionable account, but it is more a rabbit of coat 

 than of flesh. Length of coat is a great 

 feature. We have seen full grown specimens with 

 fur from 4 to 5 inches long, and that is well within the 

 limit of exactitude. There is a great tendency to the 

 coat shortening at the shoulders and fore part, hence 

 much importance attaches to rabbits that excel in length 

 of fur in that particular. The face and ears ought to 

 be thickly coated with fur, and there should be tufts to 

 the tips of the ears. This latter is a symptom of 

 development in a specimen of excellence, and is looked 

 upon with great favour. The eye ought to be of a ruby 

 shade of colour in the whites, and the iris should follow 

 the colour of the body coat in the coloured specimens as 

 nearly as possible. The Angora will sometimes be 

 found sitting with its head nestled back into its body, 

 so to speak, in which case length of coat on the neck, 

 chest, and shoulders lends to the animal a rounded 

 appearance. It should have neat ears, carried in a semi- 

 erect position. Quality of fur too, is highly esteemed. 

 For instance, it should be silky and fleecy, although 

 we are inclined to think that too much stress is laid upon 

 this in mating, hence a coat of inordinate delicacy of 

 texture, which becomes too woolly and inclined to close 

 up and mat. Further, it militates against length and 

 fullness of appearance, inasmuch as it will be found 

 that the fur is not sufficiently strong in fibre to bear its 



