Rabbits and Hares Mammals 
ed over. In any case, if several rabbits are kept to- 
gether, each should have a retiring room. 
FOOD 
Rabbits and hares are vegetarians. Their chief 
food should be hay, clover, oats, and bran; and green 
food, such as grass, cabbage, a little dandelion, or 
parsley; and roots, such as carrots, beets and parsnips. 
They eat the hay used for bedding, so it should be of 
good quality,and liberalin amount. They are espec- 
ially fond of clover hay. The oats, bran or meal 
should be dampened so as to be crumbly, but not 
sloppy. Too much moist food is likely to prove fatal; 
in general, the drier the food the better the rab- 
bit thrives. If there are no green vegetables, bread- 
crusts, either dry or soaked in water or milk, and 
squeezed, make good food. The oats may be given 
as an evening meal, the greens may be given at noon; 
the green food should not be wet, frosted, or weath- 
ered. When many cabbage leaves are fed, the hutch 
is likely to have a “rabbity’’ smell. Food should 
be given in vessels that have the edges turned inward 
so the rabbit cannot easily scratch the food out. 
These feeding pans should be kept very clean. 
Water should be given in a vessel securely fastened 
to avoid spilling, and the water should be kept fresh. 
If soaked bread, or succulent green stuff is given, the 
water is not needed. 
CARE 
It is very important that rabbits be given exercise 
as freely as possible, if they are confined in a hutch. 
If they have good runways they will exercise them- 
selves. 
69 
