66 PRACTICAL RABBIT KEEPING 



an excess of direct sunshine impairs the lustre 

 of the coat, and perhaps causes it to appear 

 somewhat rusty. This result will not follow, 

 though, unless the rabbits are kept in the 

 bright sunlight for many hours at a time. It 

 is not wise to keep Belgian hares in semi-dark- 

 ness, as some breeders have been taught to do. 

 Even though their coats may be benefited 

 slightly from this treatment, which is a doubt- 

 ful matter, their health is pretty certain to 

 suffer out of all proportion to the advantage 

 gained. 



It may be advisable in northern parts of the 

 country and in Canada to have some kind of 

 shed or other building for housing the rabbits 

 in mid-winter. At the same time, this is not 

 necessary, and it is better, as a matter of fact, 

 to have the animals in outside hutches than to 

 keep them in any building which is damp and 

 gloomy. When outside quarters are to be 

 adopted, the rabbit keeper must provide an 

 extra amount of straw or hay for the rabbits 

 to burrow in. It will be for the comfort of the 

 little animals, too, to construct a board shutter 

 to be placed at the front of the hutch at night, 

 a small opening at the top providing ventila- 



