Mammals Rabbits and Hares 
When handled, a rabbit should not be lifted by the 
ears alone. Clasp the ears or the loose skin of the 
back with one hand, and bear the animal’s weight 
with the other. If treated kindly and gently, rabbits 
become very tame, and in many homes they have 
the range of the premises. 
Rabbits are likely to have dropsy or diarrhoea from 
being fed too much green food. When attacked by 
these they should be fed hay and oats. They are 
also likely to suffer from colds and pneumonia. Mucus 
flows from the nose, and great care should be taken 
to prevent the mucus from hardening and thus stop 
the animal’s breath. The nose should be bathed 
with hot water at least twice a day, and the patient 
should be given a warm soft bed. A little hot milk 
may be given, and potato parings boiled with bran. 
Some rabbits suffer from disease of the paws. This 
usually comes from filthy hutches, and may be pre- 
vented more readily than cured. 
CARE OF THE DOE AND YOUNG 
The doe carries her young about thirty days and 
her sleeping room should be kept private when a 
litter is expected, and she should be kept very quiet. 
She will make her own nest of the hay, lining it with 
her own fur which she pulls out for that purpose. 
She should not be disturbed soon after the young are 
born, else she may devour her litter. 
The young rabbits are born blind and helpless, 
and are covered with very scanty soft silky fur. 
When the mother is off feeding, we may be permitted 
to peep in to see if any are dead or deformed, and if so 
we should remove them. After nine days the eyes of 
the little rabbits open. Before a month old the 
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