FOR EXHIBITION AND MARKET 



New Zealand Red Rabbit. 



The origin of the New Zealand Red Rabbit forms 

 one of the most interesting chapters in the history of 

 the rabbit family. 



The writer became acquainted with two noted rab- 

 bit breeders while in California, who claimed they pur- 

 chased their first stock from sailors coming into the 

 San Francisco harbor on boats direct from New Zea- 

 land. The sailors claimed to have purchased them 

 while in New Zealand ports and that they were very 

 common in certain parts of that country. The writer 

 also examined papers coming direct from the govern- 

 ment officials, which answered the description of the 

 rabbit about which our California fanciers made in- 

 quiry. These are the only facts we have been able 

 to place before the fanciers -of this breed of rabbit. 

 In justice to the New Zealand Club, we feel that they 

 have as good arguments to claim the rabbit originated 

 in New Zealand as others have to claim it originated 

 in America. 



It made its first appearance during the year 1909 

 and was a poor looking specimen as compared with 

 the beautiful rabbit called by that name at the present 

 time. The first few specimens to be shown in the 

 east resembled an old dirty piece of canvas in color. 

 Their type was also poor and many of them were 

 covered with white hairs, some having considerable 

 ticking (black hairs) on the hind quarters and along 

 the top of the back. The front legs had white bars 

 and the hind legs on many specimens were entirely 

 white. The ears were short with ear lacing showing 



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