Chap. IV. 



THEIR VARIATION. 107 



coloured nearly like the so-called Himalayan rabbits, presently 

 to be described, and differed from them only in the character 

 of their fur. There are two other breeds which come true 

 to colour, but differ in no other respect, namely silver-greys 

 and chinchillas. Lastly, the Nicard or Dutch rabbit may be 

 mentioned, which varies in colour, and is remarkable from its 

 small size,' some specimens weighing only 1J lb. ; rabbits of 

 this breed make excellent nurses for other and more delicate 



kinds. 10 



Certain characters are remarkably fluctuating, or are very 

 feebly transmitted by domestic rabbits: thus, one breeder 

 tells me that with the smaller kinds he has hardly ever 

 raised a whole litter of the same colour: with the large lop- 

 eared breeds "it is impossible," says a great judge, 11 "to breed 

 true to colour, but by judicious crossing a great deal may be 

 done towards it. The fancier should know how his does are 

 bred, that is, the colour of their parents." Nevertheless, certain 

 colours, as we shall presently see, are transmitted truly. The 

 dewlap is not strictly inherited. Lop-eared rabbits, with their 

 ears hanging flat down on each side of the face, do not transmit 

 this character at all truly. Mr. Delamer remarks that, "with 

 fancy rabbits, when both the parents are perfectly formed, have 

 model ears, and are handsomely marked, their progeny do not 

 invariably turn out the same." When one parent, or even both, 

 are oar-laps, that is, have their ears sticking out at right angles, 

 or when one parent or both are half-lops, that is, have only one 

 ear dependent, there is nearly as good a chance of the progeny 

 having both ears full-lop, as if both parents had been thus cha- 

 racterized. But I am informed, if both parents have upright 

 ears, there is hardly a chance of a full-lop. In some half-lops 

 the ear that hangs down is broader and longer than the upright 

 ear ; a so that we have the unusual case of a want of symmetry 

 on the two sides. This difference in the position and size of the 

 two ears probably indicates that the lopping of the ear results 



10 ' Journal of Horticulture,' May p. 141 ; also ' Poultry Chronicle,' vol. 

 28th, 1861, p. 169. if. p. 499, and ditto for 1854, p. 586. 



11 ' Journal of Horticulture,' 1861, p. ^ Delamer, ' Pigeons and Rabbits,' 

 327. With respect to the ears, see p. 136. See also ' Journal of Horti- 

 Delamer on ' Pigeons and Rabbits,' 1854, culture/ 1861, p. 375. 



