RABBITS 



257 



The Frencli lop-cand rabbit may, 

 by good right, be called a useful 

 animal. It is found chiefly in France, 

 though it is not unknown in Ger- 

 many, where it has been imported in 

 large numbers ever since the War 

 of 1870, when the German soldiers 

 discovered its merits. Its two flop- 

 ping ears hang down on each side 

 of the head and almost touch the 

 ground. It comes in all colors, chiefly 

 gray, but sometimes steel-blue, black, 

 and yellow. 



The English lop-fared rabbit 

 owes its existence to the French 

 breed. In England novelty is de- 

 sired, — new things before useful 

 things. A rabbit's ears ought to be 

 long ! At first breeders of the ani- 

 mals had recourse to overheating the 

 habitations, so that this English product may 

 rightly be called a hothouse breed. The speci- 

 mens seen at shows are smaller than the French 

 rabbit, but their ears are much longer, those 

 measuring from eighteen to twenty inches being 

 by no means uncommon. Once upon a time this 

 animal was all the fashion in England ; lately it 

 has given place to other breeds. In the matter 

 of utility the English lop-eared rabbit is worth 

 absolutely nothing, for it is feeble, without re- 

 sistance to disease, and serves only to please 



A Light Su.ver R.ahhit 



A White Angor.v Rabbit 



amateurs who take immense pains and trouble 

 solely to exhibit it at shows. 



The Angora rabbit is one of the most beauti- 

 ful species that exists, and also one of the most 

 useful. A more superb animal can scarcely 

 be imagined. The fur of some of them is over 

 four inches long. The skins are greatly in de- 

 mand, and all sorts of useful articles are made 

 of the fin-, — undergarments, stockings, gloves, 

 shawls, and even stuffs. The undergarments 

 are specially beneficial to gouty persons. This 

 animal is often raised by ladies 

 as a pet and for its beauty, 

 so that now it is commonly 

 called "the ladies' rabbit." 

 It finds more admiring breed- 

 ers in France than elsewhere. 

 If more attention were given 

 to raising it in other coun- 

 tries it would soon become 

 a commercial article in great 

 demand. At present manufac- 

 turers cannot obtain enough 

 of its fur to work it with wide 

 success. It could certainly be 

 bred most profitably. The 

 female is very prolific and 

 rears her young with ease. 



