THE POLISH RABBIT 65 



in the North and Midlands, where he so often 

 officiates. 



"This is one of the most common of domesticated 

 rabbits, its principal characteristic being the purity of the 

 snowy whiteness of its coat. It looks as though it was 

 delicate in constitution, yet the contrary is the case. As 

 a rule, it is very hardy, requiring little or no attention, 

 beyond perfect cleanliness, sufficient room and a due 

 regard to food. 



" Why designated Polish I must confess myself at a loss 

 to understand, for though no doubt many specimens have 

 been imported, and perhaps some from Poland and Russia, 

 yet I could never ascertain that they are more plentiful 

 there than elsewhere. 



"But I will not quarrel with the name, as I suppose, 

 like everything else, it must have some appellation, and 

 why not Polish as well as any other ; even if, as in the 

 case of the Hamburgh Fowl, it be scarcely known in the 

 locality from which it takes its name? 



" Upwards of thirty years ago I had them in large 

 quantities, the does frequently producing as many as 

 eleven at a birth, very few being lost in rearing, and 

 seldom, or ever, any deviation or sport from the parental 

 colour. 



"As a matter of course, its fur must be of snowy 

 whiteness, very short, fine and thick, and close at 

 the bottom, with no approach to wiry coarseness inter- 

 mixed. 



" As in all cases where the fur and flesh are the 

 only value, I go in for size in preference to the 



