PET RABBITS, CAVIES, AND MICE. 77 



as much intermixed as possible, to show also the 

 different colours in equal profusion. Shape, size, and 

 coat are as important in this as in any other variety of 

 cavy. They are trying, in fact have succeeded in 

 bringing out a kind of fawn brindled pig, and it is very 

 pretty, but not nearly so rich in tone, as yet, as the well 

 understood brindle. Of course, the aim is not red, as 

 in the old brindle, but a rich fawn colour to take its 

 place. 



HIM ALA VANS. 



We have seen a few of these, marked after the 

 Himalayan rabbit, with black nose, ears, and feet. The 

 Himalayan-marked cavy is very much in its infancy at 

 present, and does not seem to have " caught on." 

 The specimens already seen have been very pale in 

 points, and the body colour has not been of that pure 

 white so much needed to show the contrasts. There 

 is time for improvement, however. 



DUTCH-MARKED. 



These are very beautiful, as well as being exceed- 

 ingly pretty and valuable. The ideal is the Dutch 

 rabbit. There are reds and blacks. One of the greatest 

 difficulties appears to have been to get well-defined feet 

 stops and freedom from brindling. But that has been 

 conquered in a few instances, and some well nigh 

 perfect specimens have been penned, more numerous 

 perhaps in the reds than in the blacks. Flesh-coloured, 

 or partially flesh-coloured ears have been the cause of 

 much bother ; but in the pilgrimage to Mecca there are 

 sure to be stormy places met with by the way ; and some 

 do not condemn, with the same random rashness as 

 others, a fourth-point defect when three-fourths of the 

 points of excellence are present. Everyone does not 

 think alike, and there is yet room for difference of 

 opinion. 



