THE LOP 27 



Colour is a great deal a matter of taste ; as we say of a 

 horse, it may be said of a Lop, a really good animal is 

 seldom of a bad colour. 



Perhaps fawns, either self or with white markings, 

 which however should not predominate, are much in 

 favour ; but 1 have seen many good Blacks, Smuts, 

 Tortoiseshells, and Black and Whites, which have been 

 beautiful animals. 



Shape and Condition are of course most important. 

 The body should appear lower at the shoulders and arch 

 nicely over the hind quarters, with straight fore and 

 hind legs, flesh firm but not unduly loaded with fat, 

 large, round, rather protruding, than inset, eyes, and a 

 general expression of alertness and health altogether. 



With respect to the feeding of Lops, it is important 

 it should be varied in its elements, but of a nourishing 

 character. Many breeders advocate the use of goats' milk 

 if it can be obtained, and the youngsters taught to drink it 

 even before they are weaned from their mother, but if 

 cow's milk be used, it is thought better to boil it or mix 

 a little lukewarm water with it. 



As regards feeding of the adults, I think sweet 

 meadow hay, a little clover hay-siftings mixed with middl- 

 ings, crumbling but not wet, is a good early morning 

 meal ; in the middle of the day the meal should be 

 mainly of green food, as we must bear in mind that the 

 natural food of all the Rabbit tribe is almost entirely 

 vegetable in its raw state. I prefer broccoli, cauliflower or 

 savoy to any other of the cabbage tribe's leaves, but I 

 also like milk and sow thistle, plantains and dandelions. 



