DOMESTIC RABBITS 25 



invariably white. A few years ago, however, near Brussels, 

 the writer saw some excellent specimens of the breed of 

 the deepest black. . This color seems unknown among Eng- 

 lish-speaking breeders. 



The Lop-eared Rabbit is one of the oldest breeds. As 

 with many other domestic animals, the over-developmept 

 of an abnormal character has caused its final downfall. 

 Once by far the most popular of all rabbits, its devotees now 

 are many times outnumbered by the followers of more nor- 

 mal breeds. 



Ears are everything with the Lop-ear, other characters 

 being of small importance. It is a large rabbit, as indeed it 

 must be to carry the immense aural appendages. It occurs 

 in a great variety of self and pied colors, little attention 

 being given this point. 



The ears are perfectly pendent, any tendency to upright- 

 ness being an unforgivable fault. An almost unbelievable 

 length has been produced and rabbits with ears measuring 

 twenty-seven inches long by seven inches broad have been 

 bred. 



Lop-ears require heated quarters for the best results. 

 This fact, combined with the constant handling and manipu- 

 lation required to produce the finest specimens, have served 

 to discourage the tyro. 



Broken-colored rabbits are found in three well-known 

 breeds, the most popular of which is the Dutch-marked. 

 This animal presents the usual Dutch-markings, which con- 

 sist of colored patches including cheeks, ears and eyes and 

 saddle of the same shade, extending backward from the 

 shoulders. The greatest importance is attached to even- 

 ness of marking, particularly in the face patches, and the 

 hind feet, which are white. 



There is a great variety of colors, black, blue, gray and 

 tortoise-shell or shaded fawn being the most popular. 



