6 RABBITS, CATS, AND CAV1ES 



while the rest of the body is pure white, and it is found 

 very difficult to preserve these conditions in perfection. 

 The same rabbit at times seeming to lose colour in those 

 parts where its density is so essential to success in the 

 show pens. 



I think this must have disheartened some of its 

 fanciers, and caused a marked diminution in their 

 numbers, as of late I have met with few schedules pro- 

 viding classes for this variety, which is now mostly seen, 

 as far as my experience goes, in variety classes. 



Another variety whose popularity is, I think, not 

 being maintained, is the Polish, a lively pretty little 

 pure white rabbit, about the size of a large Dutch. 



Some years since these were extensively kept, and 

 classes given them at many of the shows, but now I 

 seldom see them anywhere, except occasionally in variety 

 or selling classes. I do not know any reason for its 

 waning popularity, except that others have come more 

 into general favour, and on the principle of the survival 

 of the fittest, the Polish have been thrust into the back- 

 ground. 



One that has for many years retained its hold on the 

 favour of the public, whether fanciers or not, is the 

 Angora, perhaps the most beautiful of all the rabbit 

 family, and which certainly requires the most care and 

 trouble to produce and keep in show form. 



As most of my readers will know, this has the longest 

 hair of any variety mostly pure white and fleecy so that 

 a good specimen looks like a mass of soft, silky hair ; but 

 only those who have kept them know how much attention 



