22 RABBITS, CATS, AND CAVIES 



fancy as National, about a well -shaped Lop with its 

 picturesque ears and solid, substantial appearance, which 

 makes it different from any other variety, and its votaries 

 insist upon its position as being that of King of the 

 Rabbit tribe. 



This being a variety in which size of body and 

 strength of constitution are important elements ; to insure 

 success in breeding operations, it is important that both 

 parents should be at least of fair quality themselves in the 

 points desired to be reproduced, of sound health, and if 

 possible of different strains, otherwise the offspring are 

 unlikely to turn out well, or be of much value for breed- 

 ing purposes afterwards. 



It is recommended that sound does with ears of 

 twenty-one inches should be mated with a buck of not less 

 than twenty-three or twenty-four inch ears, as being 

 likely to have litters worth keeping. 



Perhaps the majority of Lops now seen are not of 

 self colours, but more or less marked with white ; if, 

 however, it is desired to produce specimens of self 

 colours, much can be done in that way by mating, 

 choosing both parents as nearly of one whole colour as 

 procurable, and then re-mating some of the offspring 

 in the same way. 



I think there is no doubt that many Rabbitries in 

 which Lops have been the most important items have 

 been kept up to a high temperature, as being thought 

 inducive to the growth of ear, and this artificial tem- 

 perature has caused the deaths of hundreds, either when 

 removed to the premises of purchasers or exposed to the 



