44 PRACTICAL RABBIT KEEPING 



the ears, nose, feet and tail are so brown as 

 to be almost black. The eyes are pink, and 

 very bright. It is an interesting fact, and one 

 that may puzzle youthful owners of Hima- 

 layans, that when born they have no dark 

 markings at all, being white all over. By the 

 time the youngsters are three or four weeks 

 old, small colored spots will appear on the 

 nose and in a few weeks more the real Hima- 

 layan characteristics will be in evidence. Be- 

 cause of its playfulness, its unusual appearance 

 and its vigor, the Himalayan rabbit is a most 

 desirable pet. 



Rabbits that are kept for pets do not need 

 elaborate hutches, and many a boy has fash- 

 ioned a satisfactory home for his pets from a 

 drygoods box. One important point, though, 

 must be remembered. The hutch must be 

 kept dry and clean. Otherwise it is impossi- 

 ble to be successful in maintaining the health 

 of the animals. Over-feeding is another point 

 to be avoided. Children always like to see 

 their rabbits eat, and are tempted to give them 

 more food than they ought to have. This ap- 

 plies especially to young rabbits which soon 

 become pot-bellied if overfed, and particu- 



