42 PRACTICAL RABBIT KEEPING 



Belgian hares will perhaps make the 

 strongest appeal because of the fact that they 

 are cheapest. They are cheap, however, not 

 because of any inferiority, but because they 

 are more plentiful than the other kinds. Bel- 

 gian hares are among the keenest, most alert, 

 and most interesting of all tame rabbits. They 

 are very handsome, too, if well, marked, and 

 the boy who is interested in rabbits should 

 be given as good specimens as possible. He 

 will soon learn to know a good Belgian from 

 a poor one, and will not be satisfied with an 

 animal which has white feet and a gray coat. 



The New Zealand rabbit is larger than the 

 Belgian, and is the largest breed adapted for 

 children's pets. Of course boys often raise 

 Flemish Giants, and other rabbits of that 

 class, but on the whole the smaller breeds are 

 to be recommended. In some parts of the 

 country New Zealand Reds will be found 

 even more plentiful than Belgian hares. They 

 are especially hardy, and their sleek red coats 

 are much admired. 



For real pets, though, the Dutch rabbits 

 cannot be surpassed. They are not very large, 

 weighing only three or four pounds. They are 



