640 FAN PERS? 
JOURNAL AND POULTRY EHEACHANGE: 

Pes AND JRABBIT DEPARTMENT. 

THE DUTCH RABBIT. 
Tuis lively member of the rabbitry is well known, and 
largely used by breeders of Lops to rear the young of their 
more favorite and valuable does, and is found to be the best 
mother. JI have known them, in fact, to heap a large quan- 
tity of bedding over the young to such an extent, as I know 
would alarm many a fancier for their safety. They are 
represented by many colors, of which black, blue, and gray 
are the most popular, as they form a lively contrast to the 
white. In marking there are two distinct schools. Fan- 
ciers may congratulate themselves on the attainment by a 
few of an extra class of marking, designated as the ‘‘new 
style,” which is equally as pretty as the ‘old style.’”? The 
markings of the latter should be a white stripe upon the 
face, commencing on each side of the mouth, and tapering 
up tothe ears, it being necessary that it should continue 
between them. Round the neck, and including the fore feet 
and legs, there should be a white ring, not too wide, but 
just covering the shoulders. The hind feet should also be 
tipped with white about three-quarters of an inch, taking 
care that both tips are of the same size. The saddle may be 
either blue or any other color. A-spot of any other color 
than white behind the ears, or wherever that color is preva- 
lent, disqualifies a rabbit for showing. 
In the ‘‘ new style”’ the same mark on the face is noticed, 
as also the tips on the hind feet; the difference between the 
two styles being in the ring around the neck, which in this 
ease should be like a strip of white paper encircling the 
neck, and forming a collar of itself; and the fore feet only 
—not the legs—should be tipped with white, exactly of the 
same size as the hind feet. 
This is the only breed in which size is limited. 
weigh about five or six pounds when full grown. 
In the winter time these rabbits are imported each week 
from Ostend, Harlingen, and Amsterdam for the markets. 
Although the quantity brought over often exceeds one thou- 
sand per week, there are seldom more than one or two per- 
fectly marked to be found in a lot, and those tolerably well 
marked (always very thin) are generally too coarse to be 
bred from, with a view of procuring prize stock, throwing 
heavy, thick-legged animals, which after a certain age are a 
disgrace to those who exhibit them. 
A Dutch doe may be allowed to rear six or seven each 
nest; and those interested may find it profitable to have as 
many does of this breed as possible to kindle at or about the 
same time, for the simple reason that when two or more per- 
fectly marked young are thrown in one litter, it is a great 
exception. In the case of blues, blacks, and grays, the 
markings of the young may be discerned when a day or two 
old; and the does being naturally very tame and affectionate 
towards their offspring, and not jealous, as is the case with 
Lops sometimes, the young fancier need not be under appre- 
hension of her eating them if he takes them out when very 
young. Having selected those which appear to be worth 
keeping, it would be advisable to drown, or otherwise put 
out of existence, the remainder, which are worthless; and the 
elected of each doe should be given over to the superinten- 
dence of one which has proved itself a good mother, and 
worthy of the valuable charge committed to her keeping. 
It should 

This having been done, those which have been deprived of 
their offspring should be put to the buck again after ten or 
twelve days have elapsed. , 
No breeder of fancy rabbits should be without does of this 
breed. By breeding in-and-in they have been known to 
weigh only two or three pounds. I cannot see the utility of 
so reducing the size, but such is the freak of fancy. It has 
been proved by numerous facts, that multiplication by the 
offspring and the mother, or between brothers and sisters, is 
a powerful cause of the degeneracy of races, as much with 
regard to the fur of rabbits as their fecundity, vigor, and 
health. Indeed rabbits of one uniform color, that multiply 
in their own family, offer from the third generation, white 
spots on the fur, prejudicial to the value of it. Fecundity 
also insensibly diminishes, and weak, consumptive rabbits 
are produced, subject to internal derangements, and seldom 
living over the first moult, but usually dying off at from 
four to six weeks old. 
Dutch does, as well as the other varieties, are subject to 
miscarriages, which may be caused by too much violent 
exercise, and chiefly by fear. Wet or too watery green meat 
is another cause that admits of prevention. ‘‘ The eye of the 
master fattens the steed’’ is a common saying, and it is 
equally true with rabbits. We have sometimes been pro- 
voked by the extremes favored by judges; thus I have seen 
a rabbit as big as a Belgian hare, and well marked, awarded 
the highest honor in its class, and another instance is one at 
the present time, though the’rabbit in this case is small and 
of good color, it is unevenly marked, and that I consider the 
primary point; and if this kind of thing be encouraged, 
fanciers will be induced by the latter case to breed in-and-in 
to such an extent that Dutch does will soon become scarce ; 
however, nil desperandum. Dry food, with privation of 
greens, water to drink, and cold temperature, sometimes 
occasion obstinate constipation. The warmer rabbits are 
kept the better they thrive. When vegetables are gathered 
fresh they should not be given wet, unless very seldom, and 
when hay is given, which will drink up the moisture, and 
keep them sound without danger. On the continent this 
variety is extensively bred, and hundreds run together, and 
it is of common occurrence for does to kindle on the passage 
to this country. I would not advise my readers to follow the 
Dutch example of allowing a number of animals to run to- 
gether, as two valuable rabbits are quite enough to be trusted 
in one compartment, as there is invariably a gormandizer in 
each nest, which will, for a time, deprive its smaller com- 
panions of their share of food; and when taken away they 
are apt to get relaxed, owing to the extra quantity of green 
food of which each partakes of its own share. Under the 
present want of agreement as to the real points of excellence 
in this variety, I would not advise any one to buy a rabbit 
on the strength of its having won a prize, without first 
seeing it and comparing it with the proper standard sought 
for. 
Both styles of marking are well shown together, for the 
sake of comparison, in the excellent engraving, drawn from 
life, which accompanies this article—A. Hupson in Fan- 
ciers’ Gazette. 


beg The Zoological Garden, of Cincinnati, was recently 
the recipient of a package weighing 650 pounds, containing 
live specimens of all but three kinds of native American 
snakes. 
