PET ANIMALS. 351 



time; but from its numerous four-footed and flying enemies, such as 

 weasels, foxes, polecats, falcons, kites, &c., the effects of damp, and 

 the singularly-unnatural propensity of the old bucks to eat up the 

 little ones, the race is prevented from increasing to an obnoxious 

 extent. The most beautiful variety of the wild rabbit is that brought 

 from the vicinity of the city of Angora, in Asia Minor, and from 

 thence called the Angora rabbit ; it is an extremely pretty animal, 

 being covered with long silky hair or fur, which when dressed forms 

 a valuable article of commerce. 



frHE TAME BABBIT 



Was originally the wild rabbit 

 which we have domesticated, 

 and made larger by feeding 

 and attendance, and which 

 soon assumes its wild shape 

 and habits again if allowed to 

 escape. Common rabbits vary 

 exceedingly with regard to 

 colour, some being entirely 

 black, others white with red 

 eyes, others mouse - colour, 

 others fawn, some brown, and some grey with tawny feet. Persons 

 who are particular with respect to the colours of their rabbits, should 

 endeavour to ascertain the colours of the does from which their 

 stock came, for it often happens that rabbits produce litters in 

 which not one young one of their own tint can be found ; for in- 

 stance, if a cross of grey happened to be in the stock some four or 

 five generations back, it may appear again, although all your breed- 

 ing rabbits are of other colours. Grey is the worst of all colours, 

 in the opinion of the fancy, and the most difficult to get rid of, yet 

 it .does not always happen that grey rabbits throw litters of their 

 own colour. 



When choosing does for rearing, take the largest from those 

 rabbits which have the fewest in their litters, as it is supposed that 

 when the does have but few at a time, the young ones are more 

 likely to turn out fine ; let the little ones remain with their mothers 

 until they are about six weeks old, then take them away, and keep 

 them in hutches, two together, for about the same period, and as 

 they become excessively quarrelsome in their dispositions when near 

 four months old, they must then be separated. When you lift up 

 your young rabbits, always take hold of them by the ears, and place 

 one hand under the lower part of their backs, for it is injurious to 

 handle them too much. 



Although does will breed at the age of six months, it is better 

 that they and the bucks be ten or twelve months old before they are 

 first put together ; the rabbits should not be left together for more 

 than ten minutes. The doe goes with young thirty days, and to- 

 wards the time when she may be expected to kindle, fresh hay or 

 oat- straw, or both, should be given to her for a bed ; when she 



