TURKISH VARIETY SMUTS. 163 



and they make a good dish, cooked like the hare, 

 which, at six or eight months old, they nearly equal 

 in size. The large white, and yellow and white spe- 

 cies, have whiter and more delicate flesh, and cooked 

 in the same way will rival the turkey. 



With respect to COLOUR, I have always preferred 

 the wild colour, and black, finding the skins of full 

 as much worth as the white. The TURKISH, or 

 FRENCH RABBIT, with long white fur, differs little 

 from the common varieties ; nor did I find their skins 

 of more value, either for sale or home use. I have 

 been in the habit of drying the skins, for linings of 

 night-gowns, and other domestic purposes ; but have 

 always found reason to prefer the short, close fur. 

 The large above mentioned, indeed any peculiar 

 varieties must be sought among the London 

 dealers. 



Of late years, in London, the term smut, has been 

 applied as a mark of distinction in the rabbit. Thus, 

 there are single and double smuts. The smut con- 

 sists of a black spot on the side of the rabbit's nose: 

 when there are two black spots, one on each side of 

 the nose, it constitutes a double smut. Generally, 

 the rabbits are prized for the number of these black 

 spots upon the head and body, and for the fineness 

 and length and size of the ears, which occasions 

 their falling about the head, in a manner different 

 from the common rabbit. Black and tortoiseshell 

 are the favourite colours. 



A connoisseur has lately favoured the author with 

 the following practical observations on HARES and 

 RABBITS. " According to the furriers, the Siberian 



