io6 PRACTICAL RABBIT KEEPING 



around the hutch at some time or other. It 

 always makes it easier to examine the nest by 

 giving the doe a little green food to distract 

 her attention. 



In a rabbitry where a number of animals 

 are kept, it is advisable to maintain a stud 

 book. In fact, a book of this kind is absolutely 

 necessary when a business of any proportions 

 is carried on, unless some kind of record blank 

 is attached to each hutch. The point is that 

 the breeder must know exactly when his does 

 are to litter, or to use the common expression 

 among rabbit breeders, to kindle. This can 

 be known only by keeping a record of the 

 dates on which the does were bred. The stud 

 book or record sheet should also have a place 

 for the number of young produced in each 

 litter, and other information. 



There is a bugaboo which looms large on 

 the horizon of many rabbit keepers, both ama- 

 teurs and those in the professional class. It 

 relates to what is called in-breeding. Most of 

 the rabbit books gotten out by commercial 

 growers lay great stress on the danger of the 

 inter-breeding of rabbits having a close blood 

 relationship. Much of this danger is purely 



