50 RABBITS, CATS, AND CAVIES 



or five months old, as it is almost impossible before then 

 to judge which will turn out to be the most valuable to 

 keep. The litter should not be taken from the mother 

 until at least two months old, and they should not be 

 bred during the cold season of the year ; between 

 February and July is the best time for them. They are 

 usually susceptible to cold, and rather liable to develop 

 snuffles if not well cared for. 



Two great points to be aimed at in breeding this 

 variety (I am treating black and blue and tans as one 

 and the same for all practical purposes), are to keep down 

 size, while preserving colour and type. 



If I were breeding to obtain black and tans, I would 

 act as before stated ; but if trying for blue and tans, I 

 would sooner use a black and tan buck of rich colouring, 

 with blue and tan doe, than use two blue and tans, as I 

 think by doing so I should be likely to get blue and 

 tans of richer and purer colour ; but even in this way 

 there would probably be some black and tans in the 

 litter. 



This, as I have said, being a variety late in coming 

 into form, it is not wise to show them in young classes, 

 unless confined to black or blue and tans, as they would 

 be heavily handicapped by meeting young Lops, Dutch, 

 Himalayans, and others, which give much earlier promise 

 of their points of excellence. 



Both black and blue and tans are decidedly pretty 

 animals, if correct in shape and colour, but may be looked 

 upon as eminently Fancy Rabbits, rather than kept for 

 utility. 



