506 

Smate Pet Departenr- 
4a5> All communications and contributions intended for this depart- 
ment should be addressed to HOWARD I, IRELAND, 318 Stevens Street, 
Camden, N. J., or care of JosepH M. WADE, 39 North Ninth St., Philada. 

THE LOP-EARED RABBIT. 
dal 
i 

Prruaps many fanciers have thought that the lops should 
have been treated of first, in preference to all the other va- 
rieties; but my idea was simply this, that as, which I shall 
presently point out, it is the most difficult variety to breed, 
I was wishful to instil into the minds of those inexperienced 
a knowledge of the rearing and management of the less valu- 
able varieties, and I would not advise any one to make his 
first start by keeping Lops. No one can deny that the Lop 
is considered the leading article of the rabbit fancy, and it 
must be admitted that it is by far the most graceful and 
noble-looking animal of the rabbit kind. 
A much longer ear is now produced than formerly. I can 
well remember the time when twenty inches was considered 
to be an immense length; but at the present time, twenty- 
two inches stands but little chance against the rabbits win- 
ning the greater portion of the prizes all over the kingdom. 
The arrangement of schedules is also now different to what it 
used to be. We invariably used to find a class for the “long- 
est-eared rabbit,’ meaning, in plain English, “ irrespective 
of all other properties.’’ This was a very bad state of affairs, 
and some shows still continue it, but I am happy to say that 
since that time six additional points are now being observed 
besides length of ear. A class for ‘‘ the best Lop-eared Rab- 
bit (all properties),’’ is very attractive, and also very tempt- 
ing compared with the old style of class, which often resulted 
in the most unmerciful and cruel practice of pulling the 
young rabbits’ ears to such an extent (to use an old fancier’s 
expression) as ‘‘to make their eyes almost lay on their 
cheeks.’’ Itis sincerely to be hoped that there are not many 
men remaining who torture their pets in this fashion. 
It may seem a remarkable thing, although it is a fact, that 
very few breeders show their own specimens of Lops, viz., 
those bred by themselves, thinking it pays them better to 
sell at a long price (sometimes £20), which insures them also 
a repetition of the compliment, because the best Lop of the 
day will always pay its way at even such a high price, pro- 
viding it does not die. I would just say (at the risk of being 
thought superfluous, it being so very common) to those who 
have not bred them, that it is no use trying to get really good 
specimens up without artificial heat, to procure which, my own 
plan has been to place sawdust slightly saturated with the 
urine in the hutch, just as it has been used in fact, in the 
floor of a closet, placing the box on it (say one foot deep), 
and leaving a space of about six inches from each wall on 

FANCIERS’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 

every side, and filling the vacant parts with the same prepa- 
ration. I have never found it well to cleanse the hutch so 
frequently as that of the fancy varieties, as the Lop doe is 
generally of so vicious a temper, that on being disturbed, 
especially at the time of having young, she will often destroy 
her progeny. It isa great mistake beginning to breed show 
rabbits with common stock, although they measure tolerably 
well themselves. It is always best to buy a doe of good 
pedigree, measuring about twenty inches, and mating with 
as long-eared a buck as it is possible to get; and, if it is the 
doe’s first nest, I say by all means go to the further slight 
expense of keeping a common Dutch doe to kindle at the 
same time, and in case of need or discretion, to rear the 
young of the Lop, taking care that she (the nurse) is kept 
in the warm place mentioned, in order to assist the growth 
of the ears of the young, the best of which is to be distin- 
guished by an observance of the following points, viz., length 
of ear, width of ear, marking, position of ear, the eye, sym- 
metry and form, the weight. Color also must be considered, 
not that it can be called a point, neither do I consider any 
special color to have the preference if the quality is good, 
because, if there should be two of equally good color, the 
judge’s decision would undoubtedly go by the length of ear, 
or any other important point. The first point to be observed 
is, as I have said, the length of ear. No breeder will deny 
that it is impossible to get that point without warmth, but 
many fanciers have made a mistake, thinking that great 
warmth is necessary to keep the ear in length, and hence 
many specimens are lost simply from want of consideration 
on the part of the owner. A Lop-eared Rabbit should not 
be shown till twelve months old, after which age the ear 
grows little or not at all. After ithas grown its utmost, my 
plan is to gradually bring it to a much cooler atmosphere, 
by which treatment it is less liable to take cold when trav- 
elling to and from shows. On measuring, it is well to have 
an assistant to hold therabbit. The tip of one ear should be 
laid flat on the end of the rule, and held with the finger and 
thumb while you pull the other with the right finger and 
thumb; the width should be tried on both ears, as one is 
often wider than the other. A well-shaped ear will be wide 
and round at the end, and this is always considered a great 
recommendation for breeding purposes. With respect to 
marking, there should be a white dash on the forehead, a 
little white on each side of the nose, coming up from the 
jaw and breast, very much resembling the shape of a butter- 
fly, and commonly known as the butterfly mark; a very 
slight sprinkling of white spots on each shoulder, the most 
prominent of which should be two on which the finger and 
thumb can be rested, about an inch apart, and then an un- 
broken color on the back right down to the tail, more com- 
monly known as the saddle. The belly and legs require to 
be white like the breast, tortoise-shell being an exception. 
As regards the saddle, which should be variegated, but white 
should only be seen in the places I have mentioned. Re- 
specting position of the ear, it cannot hang too close to the 
face or too much forward. Both ears should fall evenly, 
and as near to the inner corner of the eye as possible. It 
should be of a whole color. The dewlap is generally the last 
developed point. 
In breeding Lop-eared Rabbits I would impress on new 
beginners that they should endeavor to obtain quality, and 
not be too covetous of quantity. You cannot expect to 
have fine young ones if the doe is allowed to bring up more 
than three or four. Some does of this variety will not no- 
