186 SMUTS VARIETIES. 



fur. The large above mentioned indeed any pe- 

 culiar varieties must be sought among the London 

 dealers. 



Of late years, in London, the term smut, has been 

 applied as a mark of distinction in the rabbit. Thus, 

 there are single and double smuts. The smut con- 

 sists of a black spot on the side of the rabbit's nose : 

 when there are two black spots, one on each side of 

 the nose, it constitutes a double smut. Generally, 

 the rabbits are prized for the number of these black 

 spots upon the head and body, and for the fineness 

 and length and size of the ears, which occasions their 

 falling about the head, in a manner different from the 

 common rabbit. Black and tortoiseshell are the fa- 

 vourite colours. 



A connoisseur has lately favoured the author with 

 the following practical observations on HARES and 

 RABBITS. " According to the furriers, the Siberian 

 hares are the finest in the world, for size, strength, 

 and quality of the fur. Next to those in point of 

 size are the maukins, found on the Isle of Man. 

 The weight of one of them exceeds belief, and has 

 been given as high as twelve to fourteen pounds. 

 The hare skins of North Wales are also favourites 

 with the trade, and in proportion to their size bring 

 a higher price than any other, not excepting the 

 maukins of our own high lands. 



" RABBITS are divided into four kinds warreners, 

 parkers, hedgehogs, and sweethearts. Burrowing 

 under ground is favourable, it appears, to the growth 

 of fur ; and the warrener, though a member of a sub- 



