THE HIMALAYAN RABBIT 79 



times be avoided, or the offspring will suffer, both in 

 constitution and colouring. 



In disposition they are usually quiet, docile and 

 easily tamed, if kindly treated ; the does are best left 

 alone as much as possible when suckling a litter, as at 

 such times they are very jealous of any interference. 

 Litters may be found to vary from five to eight in 

 number ; it is not wise to permit a doe to rear more than 

 four or five at the utmost. They soon come in season 

 again, but, as I have said, two litters a year are better 

 than more. 



Until the young, which should be left with the doe 

 for seven or eight weeks, are three months old, it is 

 difficult to decide with any certainty which will be the 

 most valuable to keep, and at four and five months some 

 may be good enough to show in young classes, but, as a 

 rule, they take longer to make up. 



Unless they show signs of being quarrelsome, the 

 does may run together for some months, but the bucks 

 should be taken away before reaching six months, and 

 then not put in hutches containing more than one 

 specimen. They are better kept in a house, or shed, than 

 in outside hutches, but do not require artificial heat ; 

 indeed, I have found them better without it, so long as 

 they do not suffer from actual cold, draughts or wet. 

 I think, perhaps, I have said enough in a general way of 

 this variety, and think I cannot do better than quote the 

 opinion of Enoch Hutton, F.Z.S., about Himalayans, as 

 he has had a much longer experience of them than myself. 



" This is one of the most popular and interesting of 



