PREFACE. 



Having discovered the need of an up-to-date book 

 dealing with Rabbit Culture and Breeding, and hav- 

 ing been requested by many fanciers to publish such 

 a work, I have prepared this volume, which I sin- 

 cerely believe will meet the growing demand and 

 prove of real assistance to many a brother fancier. 

 The novice will make many mistakes without a stand- 

 ard guide to instruct him in practical methods of 

 care and handling of rabbits for profitable results. 



If they will follow the instructions to the letter, 

 I feel certain they will derive much benefit therefrom ; 

 in fact, I know many of the suggestions will be of 

 service and great value to the beginner. 



I am indebted to the great English magazine, 

 "Fur and Feather," by that prince of fanciers, Mr. C. 

 A. House, and also to the book by the English Judge 

 and fancier, Mr. George A. Townsend, for many good 

 points which I have tested and found to be correct. 

 I also wish to thank our American Fanciers for their 

 numberless good suggestions and for many of the 

 photos and cuts appearing in the pages of this book. 



With twenty-four years of experience breeding, 

 exhibiting and judging rabbits, I feel I am in a posi- 

 tion to assist the fancier and that is my object in 

 preparing this book. If I am able to help some fancier 

 who is discouraged and ready to quit the fancy, my 

 work will not be in vain. 



I have tried to take up every point connected with 

 the fancy and some of the drawings of different rab- 

 bitries will show the novice where his mistakes are 

 made at the beginning. C. S. GIBSON. 



