26 MAMMALS 



Dutch-marked Rabbits are small and short in body, with 

 fine, straight ears and short coats. They are prolific and 

 easily reared, and reputed to be the gentlest of the rabbit 

 breeds. 



The Himalayan Rabbit is an excellent example of the 

 tendency of fanciers to give to breeds of doubtful origin 

 names indicating importation from distant countries. The 

 Himalayan Rabbit was produced in England, an interesting 

 account of its appearance being furnished by Darwin.* 



This is an albinistic breed, the eyes being pink. It is 

 mainly white, with nose, ears, feet and tail of a deep black. 

 The nose mark should be well developed, and cover the 

 jaw, as well as the face as far as the eyes, while the legs 

 should be colored well past the first joint. Much difficulty 

 is experienced in getting the black sufficiently dense, most 

 specimens being inclined to sootiness. Himalayas are white 

 at first, and require several months to attain the full mark- 

 ings. 



The English, sometimes known as the Butterfly Rabbit, 

 is a most bizarre creature. It seems without the bounds 

 of possibility that any animal could be bred even to approxi- 

 mate the markings demanded, yet well-nigh perfect speci- 

 mens are seen. 



The English is a rather large rabbit, averaging up to eight 

 pounds in weight. It is white in general, with curiously 

 distributed colored markings. The tail, ears, a ring about 

 each eye, a circular spot at each side of the nose, supposed 

 to represent the wings of a butterfly, and a line down the 

 middle of the back are colored — black, fawn, blue, etc., 

 as the case may be. The remainder of the markings con- 

 sist of small, circular spots, placed as follows : a row along 

 the sides, each spot to be well separated from the others ; a 



* Animals and Plants Under Domestication (Westminster Edition), 

 Vol. I, p. 109. 



