SIMPLE RULES FOR BREEDING 105 



through the nest opening. Then they begin to 

 make furtive dashes into the light, beating a 

 hasty retreat when anyone appears and tumb- 

 ling over themselves in a mad dash to get out 

 of sight. In four weeks or a little more, they 

 lose most of their shyness and are to be seen 

 playing about the hutch. 



Does differ in individual traits; some are 

 very docile and tame, while others are nervous 

 and easily excited. With animals of the latter 

 characteristics, visitors should be kept away 

 for some days after the young have been pro- 

 duced. It may be wise in such cases to post- 

 pone examining the nest for several days. A 

 French writer says that rabbits habitually 

 suckle their young very early in the morning, 

 and again between six and eight o'clock in the 

 evening, but occasionally^ we find a doe nurs- 

 ing her young during the day. Obviously they 

 should not be disturbed at this time. If a doe 

 is frightened she is likely to drag her babies 

 into the open hutch, as they attach themselves 

 very firmly to her teats. She will seldom 

 carry them back again, and they are likely 

 to perish. Most breeders know what it is to 

 find a collection of little dead rabbits scattered 



