326 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 26, 1861. 
should abo be given to the birds as drink. The roost, and other I and any dead birds carefully removed, as the disease is coil* 
places where they are kept, are to he cleansed and well ventilated, | sidered highly infectious.—( Veterinarian.) 
THE RABBIT (Lupus cuniculus). 
ITS HISTORY, VARIETIES, AND MANAGEMENT. 
(Continued from page 295.) 
THE DOUBLE OR PULL LOP. 
The Lop-eared Rabbits are the pets of the fancy, and in 
breeding there are seven points to aim at. 
1st, Length of ear, measuring from the tip of one ear to the 
tip of the other across the head. 2nd, width of ear. 3rd, 
colour—blue and white, black and white, tortoiseshell, yellow 
and white, and grey and white. The self-colours are fawn, 
EOoty fawn, or Egyptian smuts, black, grey, and white with pink 
eyes. 4th, the position of the ears. 5th, size of the eye, 
and the larger this is the better. 6th, the carriage of body. 
7th, the size. 
All these properties are very fairly exhibited in the print, 
which is a drawing of a black and white doe with the butterfly 
smut well marked. Her ears are 21 ^ inches, and considered a 
first-class specimen. The longest-eared Rabbit bred is stated 
to have had ears 23 inches long, but there is some doubt about 
it. I think 22i inches fairly measured is the longest ear yet 
obtained, and the breadth 5| inches. 
The most fashionable colours are the black and white, blue 
and white, and tortoiseshell. Good yellow and whites are much 
admired, but are rather scarcer than the other. 
The required carriage of the ears is well shown in the print, 
and the requisite points are these :—Roth ears should fall equally, 
and as near to the inner corner of the eye as possible. The 
round or convex surface of the ear should be outwards, and the 
concave inside surface nearly concealed, and lying close to the 
face. The ear should be of a whole colour the same as the rest 
of the prevailing colour. It should be thick and strong, though 
round and narrow at its root, rapidly becoming broad, and 
should continue broad to the tip and not angular. The broader 
and rounder you can get the extremity the better. 
The carriage of a Rabbit should be as follows :—Low at the 
shoulder, high at the rump, head resting on the dewlap when 
sitting, which is a double fold of skin filled with fat, and covered 
with soft white fur, which is seen under the chin, and begins to 
make its appearance when eight or nine months old. 
The proper marking of a Fancy or Lop-eared Rabbit should 
be as follows :—The nose should be marked at each side with 
some dark colour, having a dark-coloured mark running up the 
face so as to meet the marks before mentioned, and with them 
forming what is termed “ the butterfly smut,” which is so called 
from its resemblance to a butterfly with its wings extended. 
The eyes are surrounded with colouring which joins the ears* 
The chain is a line of spots at each side of the shoulder running 
from the ears to the saddle, which is a large patch of colour, and 
should be large and unbroken by any other colour—that is, if it 
be a black and white, the saddle should be black with as few 
white hairs as possible, and the same with all other colours. 
The saddle should be free from any but the one prevailing, and 
when so marked they are considered by the fancier perfect in 
colour. 
To be good specimens they should not be less than 18 inches ; 
but 20 inches and 21 inches are considered good lengths. 
In breeding Lop-eared Rabbits length of ear is the main 
object, but at the same time the other points mentioned must 
not be lost sight of. 
M. Didieux states that this breed has been obtained by 
Rabbits imported from China, and crossed with breeds natives 
of France, and called “Fancy.” Fancy, he observes, does not 
look at prices, and he states that a pair have been sold at 500f. 
to 600f. (£20 to £25 sterling). M. Gerard also states he has 
heard of £20 being paid for a single fancy or Lop-eared female 
Rabbit. These are exorbitant prices, but well-formed long-eared 
Rabbits will bring sufficient to pay for the trouble and pains 
bestowed in breeding them. 
To breed long-eared Rabbits you must first get your stock of 
a good strain; and, secondly, you must have a warm place for 
them reception. Length of ear is only obtained by increased 
warmth, high feeding, and judicious management. 
These, like other animals, soon degenerate, and require a cross 
of fresh blood frequently, which may be accomplished in the 
cheapest manner by getting the use of a good buck from some 
well-known stock, or by exchanging or buying from time to time. I 
In breeding long-eared Rabbits, you must endeavour to obtain 
quality, and not be too covetous of quantity. You cannot 
expect to have fine young ones if your doe is allowed to bring 
up more than three or four. Some does will not bring up more 
than two well: therefore, it is necessary to have common or 
Dutch Rabbits for nurses, they being much better than the more 
highly bred. 
The best plan is to have your nurse does to kindle about the 
same time as your fancy breeders; and about two days after 
your doe has kindled, take the doe out of the hutch and look 
