THE Bi3BIT. 



" Two sides of a paved court-yard may be bounded by tall 

 buildings, as houses or stabling ; if they stand to the north-east 

 80 much the better. The other two sides should consist of a 

 wall, not more than five feet high, to admit air and sunshine. 

 For security from intrusion withont, and to confine any fowls 

 that may be kept within, pahngs may be fixed to the top of 

 these low walls without any inconvenience arising. The great 

 object is to have the court at once airy, sunshiny, sheltered, 

 and secure. In one or two corners of the court, or against one 

 or two of its sides, there should be thrown a broad heap of 

 earth and rubbish, eighteen inches lower than the top of the 

 wall. In this the rabbits will burrow and amuse themselves, 

 though it is better to prevent the does from nesting there, for 

 fear of the attacks of cats and rats. The buck, if one is kept, 

 must be retained a close prisoner in a box of his own. The 

 breeding does, when their time of kindling approaches, wiU be 

 comfortably settled in separate hutches, to be described here- 

 after. The day when each doe is to bring forth will be known 

 from the stud book, even if it is not indicated by the prepara- 

 tions she makes, such as carrying about straws and haulm in 

 her mouth, and biting them into separate lengths. The rest of 

 the stock will associate indiscriminately in the court, with the 

 sole exception that all the males will be withdrawn as soon as 

 they get to such an age as to prove troublesome, and that 

 young ones, just weaned, i.e. from six to eight weeks old, will 

 be kept in a hutch by themselves till they grow strong enough 

 to join the general herd. For the rabbits which remain at 

 large in the court, a few small brick houses at the foot of the 

 wall, with their doors constantly open, and the burrows they 

 will make in the earth, will prove a sufficient shelter at night 

 and during bad weather. They will also make a similar use of 

 any logs of wood, hen-coops, or faggots that may be lying or 

 standing about the place at random. 



" The easy management of such a rabbit-court as this is 

 obvious. Food, either green or dry, has only to be scattered 

 on the pavement of the court. The small proportion of 

 individuals in confinement will, of course, require extra 

 attention. The chief thing, however, is to attend to them 

 regularly and unfailingly. Eabbits so kept are much more 

 amusing objects than when they are constantly hidden from 

 eight in their hutches. Their gambols are seen — ^their cleanly 

 habits in brushing their far coats — and even the petty 

 quarrels and jealousies which continually arise from tha 



