THE BABBIT. 



The value of this little animal to man is mncb. more consi- 

 derable -than at first sight appears. Its fiir is used in the 

 manufacture of hats, and in place of down and feathers, as 

 stuffing for beds ; its skin is of use to the glove-makers and the 

 glue-maker, and its flesh forms no trifling item of the amount 

 of animal food consumed annually in England. Home produce 

 has, however, but very little to do with this latter business. 

 Belgium would seem to be the rabbit-field of Europe. Judging 

 from the immense quantities shipped weekly from Ostend, one 

 might imagine the whole surrounding country one vast warren, 

 and the inhabitants warreners to a man. I know at the pre- 

 sent time one London firm whose weekly consignment in the 

 season is fifteen tons of rabbits ; not, it must be borne in mind, 

 encumbered by skins and ofial, but skinned, gutted, and trimmed 

 ready for the spit or pot. Take these rabbit carcases as aver- 

 aging in weight four pounda each, and we have something 

 over four thousand aiTiimalB each week. Taking the season to 

 last six m/inths, this gives us eighty-fov/r thovscmd rabbits 

 killed and consigned to one among many existing London rabbit 

 importers. 



As tax as may be gathered fi-om arithmetical calculation, 

 rabbit breeding must be a very profitable business. Pennant 

 31 *» 



