CHAPTER III 



DOMESTIC RABBITS * 



It is not strange that the rabbit, as a pet, is almost ubiqui- 

 tous. It has all of the qualifications necessary to endear it 

 to the heart of childhood, and is large enough to be of 

 interest to the practically inclined adult. In Europe, the 

 rabbit is of much importance as a means of food supply. 

 Dear experience, however, has shown that America has not 

 yet reached the point where it can regard this creature in 

 any other light than that of a pet. 



The attempt made a few years ago, to popularize the 

 Belgian Hare as a food animal, collapsed when the point 

 of marketing the surplus was reached. The boomers had 

 much to say concerning the great demand for the succulent 

 flesh of the rabbit, but the only persons impressed were 

 those who thought to court fortune by a short-cut. Tre- 

 mendous prices were paid for breeding animals, but once 

 all of the prospective breeders were supplied the Belgian 

 Hare became practically unsalable. 



The chief reason for this failure, of course, was the 

 deeply rooted prejudice against eating rodents of any sort. 

 It is a foolish antipathy, and once it has been overcome 

 there is no doubt that the rabbit will become as popular as 

 a table animal as its former promoters hoped. 



When the Belgian Hare craze was at its height the 

 most elaborate rabbitries were erected. Great buildings, 

 fitted with hutches for the accommodation of thousands 

 of animals, were frequently seen. Except in a few cases, 



* Reprinted in part from Country Life in America, February, 

 1917. Courtesy Doubleday, Page & Co. 



i3 



