102 RABBITS, CATS, AND CAVIES 



petitition for a Champion Prize, or Cup, all of which 

 were about perfect of their kinds, I should have no hesita- 

 tion whatever in deciding upon the Silver Grey as the 

 recipient of that honour. 



" This will not be looked upon so pleasantly by the 

 breeders of other varieties, but I think I am justified in 

 the position I take, considering the difficulty in producing 

 a first-rate specimen, and its great value when produced, 

 either alive or dead, and by value I do not refer to its 

 exhibition worth alone, as that is of a varying and fleeting 

 character, but of the great value of the fur for trimming 

 and clothing purposes. 



"There is no variety more hardy or that requires so 

 little attention, as they thrive under almost any circum- 

 stances ; but they are not so prolific as some others, for 

 instance the Dutch, the Polish, or the Himalayans, and 

 do not produce so many at a birth ; but this is so in all 

 the varieties of large rabbits, as the Lops, Belgian Hares 

 and Patagonians. In size they should be large, in fact I 

 would go so far as to say, the larger the better, for it is 

 very seldom that a really good specimen is seen of a 

 small size, and by judicious crossing and being careful, in 

 all cases, to secure crosses of blood as far removed as 

 possible from each other, great size is easily attained, and 

 if this point be strictly carried out, it is not needful that 

 both sides should be large ones, as it is often the case that 

 one large animal and one of a medium, or even small size, 

 if perfectly healthy, will produce the finest specimens. 



" No one will dispute the fact that if the fur and flesh be 

 the objects sought after, the largest are the most valuable. 



