FANCY RABBITS. 



321 



yoi|fl|'3 Scj)^i*il(T|e.^f . 



FANCY RABBITS. 



We think the young shoukl cultivate a fondness 

 for animals and birds. It furnishes home amusement 

 It calls into activity the tender feelings of the human 

 heart. No one who loves even an animal 

 is entirely and hopelessly bad. In our 

 boyish days we started with a pair of rab- 

 bits, having expended our last penny in 

 their purchase, and we soon became the 

 wealthy possessor of over a hundred, and 

 all our leisure moments from school were 

 spent in foraging for green food for this 

 great army. "We give specimens of two 

 of the most fancy varieties, taken from a 

 little book just published by C. M. Sax- 

 ton, of New York. Its author is C. M. 

 Be/ient. ' 



Now we do not for a moment suppose 

 that the farmer will raise rabbits for profit, 

 as he would sheep or cows, nor would wc 

 recommend such a course. The author 

 says : 



"^V'e iire not now going to raise a 

 breeze, a fever, or try to get up an excitement, mai.ia 

 or ' Rabbit Fever,' nor talk of rabbits as economii al 

 things, or as a branch of farm stock; but to consic'er 

 them as an amusement, as a subject of interest, and 

 as a study for the leisure hours of the 

 country, or the village, or city resident 

 either, if opportunity favors their keeping. 

 There is in moat persons a natural fondness 

 for animals, but not easily indulged in, 

 without more room than is often to be 

 found in village or city residences. Fowls 

 and pigeons are apt to trespass on our 

 neighbors, and arc sometimes the cause of 

 trouble. This objection does not hold 

 good against the rabbit, which occupies 

 so small a space, that where there is an 

 outhouse, there may be a rabbitry. 



"In England and other parts of Europe, 

 alove for animals, with the attendance and 

 personal care necessary to their comfort, 

 is encouraged from childhood up, as hav- 

 ing. a beneticial influence on the character. 



" The rabbit in all its varieties, has 

 always b«en, an<l still is, a great favorite 

 in many parts of the European continent. 



'In Holland,' says a writer in ihe Jlmeri- 



can Agrimllurist, ' it is bred with refer- "^^ 



ence to color only, which must be a pure 



white, with dark ears, feet, legs, and tail; 



this distribution has a singular effect, but withal a 



beautiful creature.' In thi.s country and England the 



favorite rabbit now, is the 'Lop-Eared Rabbit,' 



originally imported from Madagascar. 



" The real value of the rabbit is greater than would 

 appear at first sight. If the flesh is not particularly 

 nutritious, it is a light and wholesome, agreeable arti- 

 cle of food, nnd none but those who have lived in the 

 country, and have received the unexpected yisit of 

 friends to dinner, can form an adecjuate idea of the 

 convenience of having a plump rabbit or two at hand. 



"And there is another material value attached to 

 these animals. They afford an early lesson to boys of 



n.VT.P L0r-E.SRED KADBIT. 



having live animals to feed and tend. Their proprie- 

 torship affords an opportunity of exercising the 

 prieeless qualities in after life, of thrift, attentiveness, 

 good management, forbearance, and forethought. 



LOP-EARED RABBIT. 



" Innocent and unfailing amusement is thus derived 

 from the daily practice of prudent habits, which are 

 an excellent preparation for a subsequent charge of 

 greater importance and difficulty." 



