s How to House, Feed and Breed, By G. a. moss, With Chapters on Colour ; Dutch, Past and Present ; Type and Trimming, By T. ]. AMBROSE, sale -. 'FUR AND FEATHER.' v) X cM -^^<^i^^ New York State College of Agriculture At Cornell University Ithaca, N. Y. Library Cornell University Library SF 453.M91 The Dutch rabbit; how to house, teed & br 3 1924 003 232 083 Cornell University Library The original of tliis book is in tlie Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924003232083 ! ■■- THE ■'- -r DUTCH RABBIT: HOW TO HOUSE, FEED & BREED. BY G. A. MOSS, WITH CHAPTERS ON COLOUR, DUTCH PAST AND PRESENT, TYPE, AND TRIMMING BY T. J. AMBROSE. IDLE, YORKS.: PRINTED AT "FUR AND FEATHER" OFFICE. ( 1897, IDLE, YORKS. : PRINTED AT " FUR AND FEATHER " OFFICE. CONTENTS. Chapter I Introduction Chapter II Housing Qhapter III Feeding Chapter IV The Selection of Breeding Stock Chapter V Colours Chapter VI Breeding Chapter VII Exhibiting Chapter VIII Breeding for Colour Chapter IX Dutch, Past and Present Chapter X Type and Trimming CHAPTER I. Introduction. Having been asked by the editor of Fur and Feather if I would write my experiences on this most beautiful variety of Rabbit, and also having received several letters from fanciers in different parts of the country asking me to become one of the authors of the Fancy, I have at last reluctantly complied with their request. The reason of my hesitation was because I am sure there are many others more able to give advice than I am. However, that such advice is being craved for by hundreds of young fanciers is an undoubted fact, and I may say it is the knowledge of this that has spurred me on in this direction, and if I can only feel I have assisted one young fancier in the smallest ■degree I shall be amply repaid for all my pains. In this little work I shall deal with the following questions in their respective parts: — Housing and feeding; selection of breeding stock ; breeding ; and exhibiting. Before I say anything with regard to the above, I should like to point out a few facts which may be useful to some and interesting to others. There is not the least doubt but what there is a very great difference between the Dutch Fancy of to-day and that of eight or ten years back ; in 2 INTRODUCTION". fact, the alteration during this last two or three years is of a very marked degree, and I believe I can say, without any fear of contradiction, that no one section of the Rabbit Fancy has grown so fast, and gained so much favour amongst fanciers, as our merry little Dutchmen ; and if it were not for that one great question — I fancy I can hear someone saying " Ah now you are getting at it" — well, the question of faking — now you have it. If it were not for this, I say, the Dutch Fancy would have been twice the size it now is. Thanks, however, to our worthy judges, and the help of a few sterling fanciers who have set their foot firmly on the faking business, the time is now come when cases of this sort are few and far between, therefore, I ftope we may look for a better state of things in the future. The Dutch Club has certainly done much good work in this direction, and I would urge all who are in, and those about to commence in, the Dutch Fancy to join the club, and help it on in the work it is now doing, not only in the above question, but also in getting proper classifi- cation at shows, &c. For instance, compare the classes, given at shows for Dutch ten years back, when we used to get one, and, at the most, two classes. Now we have our six, ten, and fourteen classes provided. Is not all this ample proof that this most charming variety of Rabbit is, and will become, more and more popular in the eyes of honest men ? Perhaps it may be interesting to present-day members, of the Club to know a little of its past history. It was in o Q o o 3 « 2 02 (U J5 .tin 'W S ^ O 00 -s ■+a ■N" s ^ Q •13 g ^ S -S 3 «5 '^ i - ■» ffil •S' 1^ ^ ^. •^ "« ^" ^, ■w « § -S ^ (^ •^ „ (^ § "^ ■a i to s to ct M 5* ^ ■Cv, ^ ^ s lO INTRODUCTION. 3 1887 that I first became attached to the Dutch Club ; and I behave it was in this j^ear that Messrs. Graham, Outh- waite, Gilpin, and others started the Club, with Mr. Outhwaite as Secretary. I have still the list of members and rules, of that time, by me. In the year 1889 Mr. Graham, I think, took up the secretaryship, and at once went into the matter of revising the rules and the general management of the Club. During Mr. Graham's term of office he did a great deal in the way of getting better classification, &c. When Mr. Graham left Huddersfield for Edmonton he gave up the office! of Secretary, Mr. Waller taking it up, and after working it for about two years, resigned. It then came to my turn to have the post, which I have now held for about three years, and I am pleased to say at the present time our Club is in a very prosperous and flourishing condition. It possesses a good cash balance, and a list of members numbering over 200. I have now almost had my little say in this direction, and, in conclusion, I would say to all about to embark in the Rabbit Fancy: Give the little Dutchman a trial, and I feel convinced that if you start in the right direction it will gain so much favour with you that you will find it utterly impossible to leave so fascinating a Fancy. The Dutch Fancy can boast of many good and true fanciers, men who have done much to improve its tone and raise it to a higher position, viz., first and foremost. Amongst these are Messrs. Ambrose, Malley, Graham, 4 INTRODUCTION. Tarbox, Enfield, Minkley, Dowson, Wallis & Sons, Robin- son, Milnes, Hampshire, Townsend & Grasby, Holroyd, Todd, Cole, Goldthorpe & Son, Harris & White, Freeman & Smith, Marshall, Ball, Senior & Hudson, W. H. King, Philps, Perrin, Bexson, G. & H. B. Smith, Charvil & Mills; Brown, Perkins, Yardley, Levey, Tindall, Aconley, Hudson Bros., Moore, Winn & Moore, Orton, Collyer, Bullock, Boakes, W. King, Rhymer, Adcock, A. and H. Walker, Hooson, Pollard, Bellamy, Pallett, Bleathman, Sanders, Lord, Armstrong, Abbott, Lord & Son, Jen- nings, Brown, Bownes, Tottle, Stead, Potter, AlmgiU, Johnson, Woolston, Waller, Blower, Whymark, Wooton & Filer, Legg, Taylor, Clark, Bullock, Bostock & Robin- son, Gerry, Prowse, Hoskin, Auckland, Powell & Sharpies, Pickering, and many others whose names do not readily occur. I can hear someone saying, " Get on, and let us hear what you have to say in the way of keeping Dutch." CHAPTER II. Housing. In commencing this the first of the practical chapters of my little book, I may say that all that is written herein has been gained from personal experience, and not from mere fancy of the thing, also that it is intended for young fanciers, and not for the old .hands, who I do not expect to be guided by me, knowing they are equally well versed in the matter. I shall not say so very much on housing, because so much has been written on the housing of Rabbits that the subject is generally well understood by the veriest tyro in the Fancy. However, I will point out a few little experiences of my own in this direction. Of course, as regards housing Dutch, it is not so important a question as it is with their more artificial brethren, L,ops. In fact, Dutch will do as well out of doors, if not better, as in a rabbitry, provid- ing they are well protected against the weather, and in good warm hutches, with a good bed of sawdust and hay. I am a great advocate of the use of sawdust, as it keeps the hutches dry and keeps down the smell. I would say to anyone about to commence in the Fancy, and not in a position to erect a rabbitry, do not by t> HOUSING. any means let this hinder you. For my own part I ^hould never build a rabbitry for Dutch if it were not for my own convenience. Why I like a piroper rabbitry is because I cannot fancy on a cold winter's night having to stand out of doors to feed and look to one's stock. I like to have a place where I can go in and spend an hour or two with my Rabbits. Wha.t greater pleasure can a fancier have than this? This is, without doubt, the one great point in favour of a proper rabbitry. Still, again, I would Say, if you cannot have a rabbitry, either for want of space or otherwise, do not let this trouble you ; but mind that your hutches which are intended for outside are strong and well made. If not, your chance of success will be very poor indeed. I find bacon boxes, well scrubbed out, also large packing cases used for matches, commonly called twelve gross match boxes, excellent for making outside hutches. You can generally buy such very cheap from rnost grocers, and for the matter of a few shillings they can be made into hutches, as they are very strong, and will stand the weather. If such hutches as these are used, and placed against a wall, with a covering over the top as a protection against the weather, there is not the least doubt but what the inmates will do very well ; in fact, far better than if kept in some of the so-called rabbitries I have seen, where the owner could just ge't in, and every available space being filled up with hutches. Keeping Rabbits in a place of this sort, in my mind, is nothing less than cruelty, and it is in such places as these that all kinds of diseases are HOUSING. 7 contracted, and one in particular, that horrible disease — snuffles. If you have a rabbitry at all, by all means have a decent one. My idea of the size of a rabbitry, say to hold twenty to twenty-six hutches, is fourteen feet long, eight feet wide, and from six to seven feet high at the eaves. The hutches for such a place should be three feet long, two feet wide, and two feet high. These should be staged three tiers high, with a space of two or three inches between each hutch, so as to allow a free current of air to pass through between them. I much prefer hutches for inside use being entirely open in front, as the Rabbits can then get plenty of air. In a place of this kind, with plenty of top ventilation, your stock, if properly attended to, cannot help but do well. When I say top ventilation, I mean it must be well above the tops of the hutches, as nothing is worse for Rabbits than draughts. Another great point is cleanliness. The hutches should be cleaned out twice at least every week. It is far the best to have certain days for this part of the business, as it is more likely to be done, at least I find it so ; and I assure you it has to be something very important which prevents my Rabbits being cleaned out on their proper days. After having cleaned the hutches properly out, shake about them a little disin- fectant — Kocide is very good. Then give them a fair sprinkling of sawdust, and in the winter a nice bed of sweet hay. In the summer I do not use hay, only a little for the Rabbits to eat, as I do not think it necessary. CHAPTER III. Feeding. We now come to what is, to the Dutch fancier, a very important matter. The success of a stud in a great measure may be made or marred by the system of feeding pursued therein. I have no doubt but what many will disagree with me when^^I say once a day is often enough to feed Dutch. They will say it is starving them, and done to keep them small. I say, nothing of the kind 1 I have, ample proof that it is not so. First of all, I will refer you to shows where I have exhibited, and see what the reports say about condition. I do not wish by this to sound my own trumpet, but simply to bear out my statement as being correct. These Rabbits are only fed once a day ; in fact, none of mine are fed more, except does with young, which have a little bread and milk in the morning in addition to their daily food. Remember, it is not the quantity of food which is given to a Rabbit which brings it into and keeps it in con- dition, but the quality of the food and the way it is given which does the trick. I know plenty of fanciers who simply throw the food in to their Rabbits, without any care, and expect them to u 3 OQ Ji u -4-1 3 a <0 <0 .^ CO "S^ s^ O «o bo to a =3 ^ ^ fe ■^ u ^ ^ „ a -s^ ^ o s s ^ ^ s ^ <^ K, M H 1 t s to ^ ;-4 ^ ^" S - ■§> s .^ O •a e >. ■s^ ^ u 1 rJ3 j: ■s ^ o B -4-) 3 Q 6 ^ CD CO b rt O V ■M f tfl v^ B5 ; S * l+H 5S Mrt o 1 S b l-< O 5 c 1 > p. ^ r"^ ^ H CO U 'ts o a 42 to BREEDING. 29 twice, not more ; then take her away and place her in the hutch where she is to rear her young. As to the kind of hutch, I myself prefer one with a breed- ing apartment, although it is not altogether necessary. At the same time I have had does which would not rear their young unless they had a proper breeding hutch. During the time the doe is going in young, she should be well and properly fed, and about three or four days before she is expected to kindle, give her a little warm bread and milk once a day ; also see there is a little water kept in the hutch. If this is attended to, and a good bed of sweet hay given, you may rest assured all will be well. After the doe has kindled, the warm bread and railk should be continued for a few days, in addition to the daily food, after this the ordinary food may be given. As I said in another part of this work, my Rabbits are only fed once a day, except does with young, which have either a little bread and milk or a little green food given in the morning, until the youngsters begin to run about. After this they are only fed the same as the others. Some fanciers arrange so as to have several does kindle at the same time, they then kill all the young that are not pretty good in markings, and put the best ones all on one or two of the does, putting the other does to the buck again. Of course, as a rule, Dutch are capital mothers, and you can do almost anything you like with their young. I generally have a look at the young ones as soon as the doe has kindled, first of all taking the doe out 30 BREEDING. of the hutch, then, after rubbing my hands with a Httle hay, I have a look for the eye-opener. I take away the worst marked ones, put a little something tempting in the hutch in the way of green food, then put back the doe. I do not care for the plan of taking all a doe's young from her, as, in the first place, I consider it is cruel, and> secondly, because it makes her lose confidence, particularly if she is a young doe. I like youngsters to run on the doe until they are about six weeks old, by which time they should be taken away, putting the bucks in a hutch to themselves, and the does the same. In doing this do not put too many together, as they will not do so well, also, if too crowded, their ears will grow too long, a bad fault in a Dutchman. If you have one in a litter which, in your opinion, is going to make S winner, let it stay on the doe a day or two after the others are taken away, then, when you do take it away, put it in a hutch by itself, and give it your best attention. Do not give youngsters too much green food. At the same time, a little, if carefully given, will do them good. After you have taken the doe from her young, do not give but very little green food for a day or two, so as to dry up her milk. Don't be in too great a hurry to put the doe to the buck again, but give her a little time to get up her strength. Myself, I generally commence breeding at the end of November, and between this time and July I expect to get about three litters from my dpes ; about August they begin to go into moult, so from BREEDING. 31 that time until November I always give them a good rest. As to the age a buck should be before he is put up for breeding, I like mine to be about six months, certainly not younger. Even then for the first six months do not use him too much, particularly if he is an extra good one, and you wish to keep him in show form. At this period, one doe a week, is quite enough. After he has attained the age of twelve months, if properly fed, you may use him to three does a week, if you are not exhibiting him, but if you are exhibiting him regularly he should not be used more than once a week. As to the age a buck will remain good for stud purposes, I find, if properly used, they will last for five or six years. When once you have got a buck that suits your does stick to him ; not go changing from one buck to another every few weeks. Whenever you do introduce a fresh one into your stock be sure you find out all about him, how he was bred, and who by, and from what colour. You must, remember a buck plays a very important part in breeding matters. Last, but not by any means least, when you have once got together your breeding stock, stick to it, and not go chopping and changing them about all the time. If you wish to breed winners you must do a little in-breeding. Never mind what others say to the contrary. A properly selected breeding stock, with a httle in-breeding, is the secret of success. I have now been through the housing, feeding, and breeding experiences, and as a conclusion to my little work I will give you a few hints respecting exhibiting. CHAPTER VII. Exhibiting. I may say that lately this is a thing I go in for but very little, only showing at one or two of our best shows, for somehow or other I have taken a preference to selling my stock at home in their own pens. However, during my career in the Fancy I have done a great deal at it; it is now about fifteen years since I exhibited my first Rabbit. During the time intervening I can assure my readers I have seen some ups-and-downs, and many great changes have corhe upon the Rabbit Fancy. I will, first of all, have a few words to say on does exhibiting pay. I am quite sure many will say no ; however, in spite of such an answer, I shall say it does, but to make it pay it must be taken up in the proper way. It is no use a young fancier buying a second-rate specimen, and sending, it to shows all up and down the country, expecting it to win everywhere it goes, for if he does he must be prepared for disappoirit- ments, as he will spend a lot of money, and get very little return. I say to all who intend to exhibit, if you have to buy your stock go in for nothing but the very best. Reiiiember, if you do have to pay a long price "for a good EXHIBITING. 33 specimen, it will repay its cost, and give you a name in the Fancy, then you will find exhibiting pay, but a second- rater will do neither. Having looked at this side of the question, I will proceed to say a few words to the fancier who breeds his own exhibits. Supposing you have had a fair breeding season, and have a few youngsters which you consider likely to go out and get into the money, take my advice, and do not be in too great a hurry to send them out, however anxious you may be tp win a prize. I am well aware most "fanciers like to get a good youngster out as soon as possible, but I say again, do not be in too great a hurry, as many good youngsters are spoiled through being shown too young. For my part, I consider it by far the best not to send out a good youngster until it is ten or twelve weeks old, by which time it will be able to fetand the strain of exhibiting. I must, however, admit I, myself, have shown youngsters younger than this, but whenever I have done so luck has always been against me, so that I should have been a lot better off had I kept them at home. I have a good proof of this in my rabbitry now, which will be revealed later on. On the other hand I have kept plenty of Rabbits at home until quite grown up before showing them. To further substantiate my statements, I may say I know plenty of fanciers who will not send out their Rabbits until they are three or four months old. During a recent visit to Sheffield I saw an example of this, as, on visiting the rabbitry of one of our best fanciers 34 EXHIBITING. in that town, I saw several youngsters which could.have been well in the money at the Dutch Show, and I don't even know but what one of the number — a tortoise — would have won the cup, still, our friend would not show them because he thought them too young. Another thing which I do not believe in is showing a Rabbit too often. Some fanciers send the same Rabbit to two or three shows a week, and keep on doing this week after week. In time this is sure to tell its tale, as all must admit. A thing I always do when sending my Rabbits to shows is to put a little food of some kind into the box with them ; about the best thing for this purpose is a hall of barley meal, bran, and a little Condion, mixed ; in addition to this I always give a drink of milk with a teaspoonful of Knight's Cholerine in it, both before they go and when they return. By doing this you prevent scours, and bunny is very little, if any, the worse for its out. One Rabbit I had which was very fond of milk, used always to be ready for her pick-me-up when she arrived home from a show, and she would not settle down until it was given her. I might say that in the summer I give the milk cold, and warm in the winter. Another very important point which many do not give enough attention to is the travelling boxes. Where- you see one decent exhibition box you may see twenty very bad ones. This is, without doubt, a very great mistake, as, in addition to having your stock damaged, you are much more likely to get them lost, which, in EXHIBITING. 3^ many cases, is entirely the fault of the exhibitor through bad boxes, &c. Some of the boxes I have seen at shows are nothing short of a disgrace — anyone who has been a steward at a large show knows this to be only too true — lids nailed on in pieces, labels nearly if not quite off; you see all these Irind of things at a show, then owners wonder why their stock goes wrong. My advice to all young exhibitors is to have good exhibition boxes, not too small. One of the best boxes I have seen is that made by Mr. Hillyer, of Northampton ; they are reasonable in price, well and strongly made, not over heavy, strength and lightness being well combined. Above all see that the labels are securely attached. If you attend to these few points, and the show is under proper management, you will have little cause to complain. One thing more I might add ; that is, do not be too late in starting your exhibits. Remember most good shows make arrange- menis to pen all the stock directly it arrives, and if your Rabbits have time to settle down in their pens before judging, they look all the better. Below I give my standard of the points of perfection. It will be seen that I differ a little in some points with the Dutch Club standard. I have given more points to certain parts, finding, as I do from breeding experience, that such points are by far the most difficult to obtain. Blaze and cheeks, blaze to be of a nice wedge shape, tapering off finsly, and running through the ears ; cheeks nicely rounded, 35 EXHIBITING. well covering jaws, not to run in neck, and to run close down to smellers, but not to touch same... Clean neck Saddle ... Undercut Feet stops, to be from i to if inches in length and cut even on top and underneath Ears Eyes, free from specks Type and colour Condition Total 20 points 10 10 10 20 5 5 15 5 Negative Points. Small specks on eyes to lose ... Eyes with specks approaching anything near a quarter of the eye to lose Distinct spots or flesh marks on any part to lose... Over 5flbs. in weight to lose 10 points. 20 20 Mr, T. J. Ambrose. CHAPTER VIII. Breeding for Colour. I have had, from time to time, many opportunities of discussing Dutch breeding, and I have found no subject on which are held so many and varied opinions as this. Each and everyone has different views about breeding for colour. I know the orthodox idea is to secure a black buck, and as far as a stock rabbit goes, you are secure in breeding him with any does you like. This, to a great extent, is correct, as black is no doubt the foundation colour of all, and offers greater facilities than any other colour. This being the colour most extensively bred, I will deal with the breeding of blacks first, and will say that they are the most difficult to obtain, because the faults are so very apparent ; no colour shows the white hairs on body, the ticking in the ears, or a little white spot on the belly so plainly. The latter is a frequent failing in Dutch. Up in the middle of the thighs the white spot is so readily distinguished in a black, but I have known cases of a fair 'sized spot go on right through the exhibition life of some colours without being noticed. In a black, these defects are fatal to its success, and con- sequently, as I have said, they need the most careful attention. 38 BREEDING FOR COLOUR. It is, therefore, an absolute necessity that you should avoid Dutch for breeding which have really bad ears. I mean those that are ticked almost like a silver, and especially those that have flesh marks ; these generally appear on the tips, and are almost certain hereditary traits which will be transmitted faithfully to the progeny. I have always been struck by the fact that it is far easier to transmit faults than points of excellence. The one comes with unvarying regularity, whilst the other is oftimes the work of years to concentrate. Ticking on ears, and spots on belly should always be rigorously avoided. Keep the black as solid as possible. This is what is termed good sound colour. I know that too much attention can be 'paid to this ticking, and in judging too much weight attached to it, because many exhibitors have a great stock of patience, and this and a pair of tweezers will, to a great extent, reduce this fault. Another great fault, and one that is very frequent with this colour is the rapidity with which some exhibits go brown in colour — I have three noted winners on my mind whilst writing this, " Magpie," Messrs. Wallis's black, and the black that was shown by Mr. Chappell during 1896. — This has been generally admitted to be the want of a moult, and rightly so ; but oftimes the real cause is their having tortoise blood in them, and it is the blending of brown with the black that causes the brown to preponderate, get on top, and consequently spoil the colour. I should therefore in breeding blacks avoid BREEDING FOR COLOUR. 39 as much as possible the use of tortoiseshells ; also greys, because of the ticking. This brings me to the utility of using a good coloured blue as often as necessary, to keep up the standard of colour in blacks. Blacks so bred can be mated black buck and black does for several generations, without any appreciable weakness in the colour. The use of blue blood gets that lovely purple sheen on the top, and great depth of colour so desired by all Dutch-men. I remember several years ago, pairing, as an experiment, two blues which had been bred from blacks, and getting a black buck from the cross, which for purity of colour and brightness I never saw equalled ; and what is still more interesting, he got some wonderfully good coloured youngsters. I should, there- fore, always advise the foundation of a stock for breeding blacks to be kept exclusively to the two colours, blacks and blues ; by so doing, one would avoid a lot of trouble, and the improvement in the stock would be marked to such an extent that the owner would never depart from the plan ; at the same time he would, no doubt, get some grand blues from the same cross. I know many think that I attach far too great importance to these minor details, but I have always held that to be successful in breeding Dutch, one must carefully avoid the rough and ready pairing which takes place on all hands. There is less attention paid to pairing Dutch than any variety of rabbit bred. So much is always left to chance, because some of the cracks have 40 BREEDING FOR COLOUR. been chance bred, but if a sound basis had been adopted in pairing, I am sure we should have got Dutch with far more even quality in every way. Ask any practical silver breeder if he would indulge in this reckless mating of colours, and he will at once tell you that such is fatal. Until breeders of Dutch recognise their duty in getting their specimens sound and honest in colour, no advance can be made in this direction. I know that all other interests fade in the race for markings, and the other points are considered of little importance. This of course is a natural result in such a variety, but if fanciers would only follow common sense lines, and breed from the colours that will blend well together, the trouble would be no greater, and the result more than repay any trouble or expense they may be put to. In extending this explanation to general purposes, I do so hoping that it may be giving those who never thought the subject out, the result of my experience; and I shall now only have to deal with the other colours in a manner that is peculiarly adapted to its special requirements, because the general rules are the same^ — I mean, in avoiding those specimens which have ticked ears and bodies, flesh markings on ears, and spots on belly. I next take the pairing of blues, and the best mating, of course, is to a black, because in nearly every case the result of pairing blues to blues is fatal to rich, pure colour. It comes far too pale. I have on, several occasions used a steel-grey as a cross to increase the , depth of colour BREEDING FOR COLOUR. 4I on ears, and the result has been most satisfactory, and I have seen excellent steel greys bred from this cross, I hope more attention will be paid to this colour, so that tliey may be got with greater depth of colour, and brighter on top, with special attention paid to the ears — the stumbling block to most breeders. In recommending the steel grey cross, I know that the result will be a few blue- fawn and blue-grey youngsters. I should not recommend any fancier to breed from these colours, because if he breeds a rabbit with grand markings, he will meet with very little success in the show pen. Next we come to greys, a colour I have taken great interest in. Further, I have done not a little to, bring steel greys to their present pinnacle of fame. That they are the most popular colour, and the best colour to wear, there can be little doubt. The fact of their going a little brown only intensifies their beauty. In this colour there are two shades, steel grey and light grey, butthe steel greys are gradually and surely starving the light greys out of existence. This no one will very much regret, but I shall always contend that the light or brown greys bred with distinct belly markings and stops should be put on the same level as a steel grey if it is equal in markings, &c. I shall not attempt here to advise how to produce steel greys, because the colour has now become so fixed that it can be transmitted to the progeny with great regularity, but I should advise fanciers in starting this colour to get their stock from those whom they know have bred their stock 42 BREEDING FOR COLOUR. from steel grey blood. In this colour the blacks must again be used, but you can often pair the steel greys together with admirable results. I have got as many as nine steel greys in one litter from this cross, but the blacks will have to be used sometimes to increase the density of grey. One thing I should like to draw special attention to in this colour is the bright steel ticking ; this should be evenly distributed all over the head, ears, and body, making the grey one uniform shade. Many breeders have got the grey too dark, nearly black in places, especially on the back and cheeks. To my mind, this is a bad fault, and fanciers should ever bear in mind the advantage of having them with bright steel ticking. A cross with a blue will sometimes be found of great benefit, and, strange to say, "Eclipse" was bred from a steel grey doe by a blue buck, and his colour was really grand, although perhaps not so bright as some of the present day greys. The colour and ticking should always be maintained to its standard on the belly and hind feet, and any approach to light grey here is a defect, which shows the introduction of pale greys. Some very dark greys I have seen have had . nearly white bellies and feet ; these are the wrong sort, because anyone's stock that has been carefully bred will not go so far astray as this. It is, no doubt, owing to pairing the steel and the light greys together — a cross I never recommend. In such a cross you introduce the very element you want to avoid. The tortoise comes next, a colour over which there has been a good deal of contention. In my earlier days I BREEDING FOR COLOUR. 43 rather favoured as the standard of excellence, an approach to the ideal, from which this colour derives its name, tortoiseshell, and paid a lot of attention to breeding one to my idea, but when I got the darker shades evenly dis- tributed over the body, I must confess the result was dismal and disappointing. The colours were not like those of a Cavy, they were neither sharp nor clear enough, conse- quently they ran one into the other, and were not in any way pleasing. I waS; therefore, convinced that this standard was neither desirable nor effective. The other idea, and the one generally favoured, is dark points round the edges of the cheek markings extend- ing towards the eyes, the ears dark from the roots to the points, also the haunches and hind feet. These densely shaded blue-black points, with the other parts a nice sharp deep yellow, is a blending both pleasing and effective, and, after all, beauty is the idea that everyone should strive for, although it seems strange that what is correct in a Cavy or a Cat, is not the ideal for the same colour in a Rabbit. This colour is best produced by crossing blacks with them, and, except in the case of very dark parents, it is not advisable to pair tortoiseshells together, they seem to come soft in colour. Here, again, a blue can be paired to a tortoise with advantage. It increases the density of the shading very much, and often gets that desirable shade which cannot be obtained without the adoption of the third colour, because, after all, tortoise is a mixture of yellow, black, and blue ; that is, of course, in reference to the shading desirable on a Dutch Rabbit. 44 BREEDING FOR COLOUR. The other colour is yellow, but as the advantage of breeding such would, I feel sure, never repay the breeder, it is not necessary to enter into detail. Sufficient to say they must be entirely free from dark hairs round the smellers and haunches before they can be recognised as pure yellows ; otherwise, they are little better than bad tortoises. In fact, one can see that those shown of recent years have generally been produced more by accident from tortoises than from careful mating. The blue fawns and blue greys are known as the ofif colours, and are not at all popular, consequently are seldom an the winning list against the other colours. I should, therefore, advise fanciers who intend breeding high-class Dutch, to avoid using these off colours in the breeding pen, as they are continually cropping up and spoiling the strain for breeding purposes. If more attention was paid to colour in Dutch, I am sure we should get them much more beautiful than at present, which, when the markings were correct, would add greatly to their chances of success in the show pen. I know the first attempt may be disappointing, because, unless one knows how the parents have been bred, they cannot, with any degree of certainty, count on the success likely to attend their efforts. Perseverance will overcome all these Httle difficulties. Attention paid to breeding from good coloured specimens, and carefully mating them, wil amply repay the breeder. ^ k ■^ ^ i brj '^i 1 o c c/p 5) Si "^ a> -s ^ ^ ^"^ o — ^ ^ a 3 "5= ^ j: ^ •yj s ^ 3 of bo ' — I ^ ■5 Q C 5 "S ^ -S "5 ' ' s ^ i ' — ' o ^ o h-^ H -> ^« ^ p iK ^ c« -^ -O ^ § "o ^ ^ ^^ u 3 >^ ^ ^ - Q rr^ ~ >~^ ^ 00 '^ ^ CHAPTER IX. Dutch, Past and Present. In writing an appendix for this book, under the above heading, I should like to take this very favourable opport- unity of acknowledging the great debt of gratitude that all fanciers of this most beautiful variety owe to Mr. Moss. No one, unless intimately associated with the working of specialist clubs, has any idea of the great amount of work that falls upon the shoulders of the secretaries, and to Mr. Moss must be attributed a large amount of credit to the present very flourishing condition of the Dutch Club, and also the variety that the club was promoted to foster. My mission, however, in writing this appendix, is to recall memories of the past, and concentrate my readers"^ thoughts a little on the present day cracks. My knowledge of the past is, I know, not very extensive, as I cannot claim to be one of the old hands, but the results of research amongst the older records of the Dutch Fancy will, I hope, serve to make my contribution, at least, interesting reading. 46 , PAST AND PRESENT. In dealing with the past, I shall not attempt to inflict upon my readers the tracing of the origin of the Dutch Rabbit ; sufficient for my purpose to go back to the early eighties, and review the worthies of those days. The illustration, representing the past, of a black and a tortoise, ex- hibited with very great success by Mr. Watmough, goes a very long way to prove the great difference between the winners of those days and the present day exhibition specimens. The marked improvement in shape is very apparent from the picture. The older representatives appear very baggy and long in ears, the markings, too, exhibit a striking example of the march of progress, as such mark- ings as depicted here would, to-day, fail to get recognised in a selling class. This illustration forms a very pleasant episode, linking, as itdoes, the old with the new, the past with the present. Fortunately, I am associated somewhat with experience of the older Fancy by frequent pleasant chats I have had with Messrs. Tottle, fellow-townsmen of mine at Bristol, and the Dutch kings of days long since gone by ; men who made Bristol famous in the days of yore with their champions. Those conversant with the Dutch Fancy of those days will well remember the blacks, " La Mode," " Marksman," " Lord Raglan," and " Black Diamond " ; the famous grey, " Grey Palmer," and " Sunshine," the noted tortoise, " Blue Skin," the equally well-known Dutch, that derived its name from its colour. PAST AND PRESENT. 47 I have also listened with much chagrin and amuse- ment of the lively doings of Dutch men in those days. Trimming was, of course, a thing unknown, all were penned as Nature formed them. ' No collusion with ex- hibitors and judges in those days of modesty and refinement. Selling judges, their customers, agents, and such like only existed in the imagination of some disappointed exhibitors. All were interested in the best winning ; those who couldn't trim didn't try, those who could didn't say so, but they were done, nevertheless, and there were even recognised mediums through which the process of preparation could be done, and the matter was allowed to grow until it had gained the upper hand ; but more anon on this — the vile cancer of the Dutch Fancy. Those days are days of old, gone never to return, only in the minds of those who participated in the consequent excitement and victory, and to bridge over the gulf existing between the past and present, we must associate the names of Messrs. Johnson, Enfield, Radford, Aconley, Outhwaite Gilpin, Potter, Gott, Brisley, Philps, Garlick, Ellis, Hol- royd, Graham, and many others whose names do not appeal to me at present. Some of these are like the measles and bad weather, always with us, whilst others crop up like the proverbial gooseberry, to demonstrate to present day champions that the old hands have lost none of their cunning. One of the representatives of those days which did an immense amount of winning was Outhwaite's " St. John," 48 PAST AND PRESENT. which won an enormous number of prizes, bringing us to the period of those highly successful cracks, " Kingston Gem " and " Kingston Princess." Those who remember the black will always associate her name with lovely colour, ears, and type, and really beautiful short coat. This exhibit, and the tortoise, generally accounted for first in both classes, and the way which the genial Tommy Holroyd always kept them in tip-top form, considering how they were shown, speaks volumes for his knowledge of the treatment of the sprightly little Dutchman. Another black of this period that caused a great sensation as a yoimgster, was the one exhibited by that enthusiastic and genial fancier, Mr. James Graham. To know this fancier is a pleasure, but to learn him is a most interesting pursuit. I feel sure that what he doesn't know about a Dutch is not worth learning. This Rabbit was brought out towards the end of i8go, and, after securing a large number of firsts, was secured by Mr. Tottle for £\2. Its worst fault, to my mind, was that its saddle was on the cross, but its shape, colour, ears, and coat were everything to be desired. Its promising career was, however, cut short by its going blind in one eye. Then came the redoubtable tortoise, " Moonshine," which made the name of Sammy Pearson a household word in the Dutch Fancy. This Rabbit was, undoubtedly, a grand all round exhibit, and probably the best tortoise ever penned, his left cheek, full neck, and slight break on top collar being his worst defects. The one great feature PAST AND PRESENT. 49 of this Rabbit, to my mind, was the really remarkable constitution he must have had, as I know of no Rabbit that did so much knocking about, and showed less signs of being over-shown than this famous tortoise, and up to the very last he always kept in really good coat. One thing, however, about this Rabbit that seemed most peculiar to me, considering what a great favourite he always was, was how very few specials he won for best Rabbit in the show. I well remember his being at Chesterfield, where there were four specials for best in show, and they were awarded as follows : — a Lop got special No. i, a Belgian Hare No. 2, a Silver No. 3, and an Angora No. 4. However, all that has been avenged since, and Dutch have probably won more specials for best in show this last two or three years than any other variety. The same year we had the famous steel grey, " Eclipse," without a doubt the best grey penned up to that time, his colour was splendid, but he failed on one stop, was too wide at the bottom of the blaze, and too long in body to my liking. This Rabbij. was bred by Mr. Johnson, of Kettering, and afterwards passed into my hands, and was shown by me with great success. I then sold him to Mr. Cooper at the then record price of fifteen pounds. He won a lot for this fancier, and at his death came into my possession again ; was then sold to Mr. Malley, for whom he won a great deal. About the same time, I also bred and brought out the famous steel grey named " Grey Victor," without doubt the best Dutch for colour, ears, type, and sprightHness that 50 PAST AND PRESENT. was ever penned, and probably the foundation of the present-day steel greys. The success of this pair, was, no doubt, the cause of so many fanciers getting the steel grey fever, and about this time everybody went in for breeding steel greys. Writing of " Grey Victor " reminds me of this Rabbit's abominable temper. The notoriety which he obtained for biting was equal to his success as a winner, and the number of fanciers who bear testimony to his industry with his teeth must be le,gion. Few exhibits had a record superior to "Grey Victor,'' and his activity was truly phenomenal. I remember on one occasion sending him to six different shows straight off the reel without coming home, to see if tiring him out before coming home would make him better tempered. His journeys from one show to the other totalled over a thousand miles, but he bit someone, so I afterwards learnt, at nearly every show. The railway man who delivered him at the finish will always have good cause to remember him as he bit the top of his thumb off. In carrying the box, he put his thumb through the ventilation hole, with the result that " Grey Victor " bit the top clean off. This was the worst escapade of this ever-memorable, yet pugnacious, Dutchman. Leaving this period, and coming to 1893, brings us to the sensational winner, " Magpie." That this exhibit had a remarkable career, no one will deny. I always' thought, however, that she was a remarkably lucky Rabbit, and although I may be accused of attempting to depreciate her fame, it must be generally acknowledged that she had a Mr. John Malley. PAST AND PRESENT. 5 1 remarkable run of success, considering that she had so many faults. About this time, the name of Mr. Malley flashed across the annals of Dutch celebrities, and no record of recent years would be complete without a word of praise to this gentleman's unswerving fidelity to everything best and purest in support of that breed which has made his name a household word in the Rabbit Fancy. I remember he had four very grand Dutch on the boards, " Climax," "Eclipse," " Pinate," and "Sunbeam"; "Climax" a bonny tortoise, grand markings and type, but had to contend against a speck on eye. " Eclipse " I have already dealt with. " Pinate " was the black that caused such a sensation by beating the unbeaten " Magpie " at Grimsby, and caused such a spirited discussion in Fiiv and Feather. I shall, however, always consider " Pinate " the best black Dutch penned up to this period ; her magnificent shape, ears, type, colour, and almost perfect markings, with the most lovely short coat of raven black hue I ever saw on a Dutch, constituted to my mind the heaii. ideal of what a Dutch should be. " Pinate " was bred by Mr. Ashby, of Northampton, was claimed by me at Grimsby Show, and secured by Mr. Malley, for whom she won about fifty first prizes. " Sunbeam " was an excellent specimen of a steel grey, had phenomenal success in the show pen, and must have won nearly as many firsts as any Dutch yet penned. Her worst faults were her stops and long body. This doe was bred by Mr. Baxter, of Grimsby, bought by me when a youngster, afterwards sold to 52 PAST AND PRESENT. Mr. Malley, and was quite invincible for a long time in the Any Other Colour class. For some considerable time these rabbits won all before them, and the amount of wmning they did grew almost monotonous. The year 1895 brought that old and enthusiastic fancier Mr. James Graham to the front again, and the successes he achieved with the blacks. "Cleopatra" and "Yorkshire Lass" were both well merited and very popular ; they were grand in markings and colour, but both failed in shape. This, however, I fancy, was as much due to this popular fancier's liberal diet as anything else. Another black that he did well with, and which was bred by a very deservedly respected fancier, Mr. Pollard, of Bath, was " Lord Nelson," the black which won the Sheffield Fanciers' Young Cup in 1894, ^^'^ ^^^ bought after spirited competition at the auction by Mr. Aconley, afterwards passed into the hands of Mr. Stead, who was very successful with him, thence into the hands of Mr. Graham. This was a really good Dutch, but he got coarse, and his colour did not last. Another, with which Mr. Graham did a great deal of winning, was the tortoise buck. This rabbit's odd face, a fault so apparent, told greatly against his general character ; still his other grand markings and colour helped him to win a large number of firsts. Mr. Moss, too, this last two years, has been showing some good blacks, his cup winner at Lincoln in 1895 being a bonny exhibit, her worst fault was her short PAST AND PRESENT. 53 Stops, her success after this being fairly well maintained. Then in 1896 at Leamington, he agam won the cup with a recent purchase, Mr. Graham's " Yorkshire Lass," the doe's lovely condition on this occasion helping her immensely. Another name, the owners of which have won a large number of prizes in Dutch during the last three or four years, is Wallis — the Messrs. Wallis and Son, of Cambridge. One very successful rabbit was the grey disquaHfied at Lincoln in 1896, and which the Investigation Committee of the Dutch Club exonerated. This rabbit afterwards passed into the hands of Mr. Minkley, whose name will always be kindly thought of by Dutch fa;iciers as the pioneer of the Sheffield Dutch Show. With this gentleman he did well. The rabbit was undoubtedly a good one, but like so many other good marked ones, he was too large. Another very successful Dutch of Messrs. Wallis' was the blue that won the Dutch Club Cup at Leamington in 1896. This rabbit was, no doubt, one of the best of its colour ever penned, grandly marked all round, and sound in colour, with exceptionally nice ears. This firm also had a black out some two or more years ago that was of wonderful type and markings, but very brown in colour, otherwise I think it would have made itself very famous. This brings us to 1896 — a year of great success for my favourite colour, steel greys. The success of Mr. Malley'spair " Hoghton Grey Laddie " and " Hoghton 54 PAST AND PRESENT. Grey Lassie " was indeed very remarkable. The former was, to my mind, a really grand exhibit but its small cheek markings must have told against it ; still, in equal condition, I thought it superior to any Dutch of the year. Its ears, type, colour, neck, collar, cut, and stops being about perfect. "Grey Lassie" was not so good in shape or markings, and was" not ticked even enough with the bright steel ticking. The champion specials for best in show that these two accounted for during the year was, I think, the best up to date. The end of the year brought us that grand steel grey of Mr. Adcock's, claimed by Mr. Graham at Rochester, and which turned the tables on " Hoghton Grey Laddie " at Stratford-on-Avon the week after, also securing the special for best in show — a feat he has done so many times since. This rabbit is no doubt, of wonderful shape, has good colour, ears, eyes, saddle, cut, and stops, but fiis face is, to my mind, a very long way from being right, and his neck is very full. He, no doubt, wants a lot of handling to be appeciated, but his type, colour, and style is of the highest order. Another rabbit for which I, predict a very successful career is a young black penned this year by Mr. Malley, and which got second in a very large class at Northampton. At this show it was getting into full coat, and I think when fully made up, it will take all the best to stop it. It has grand face, neck, collar, and stops, and the best type and colour I have seen for a long tirrie. At PAST AND PRESENT. 55 Northampton it was wavy on collar, the new coat not having grown suftcient to show its true quality. This, I think, concludes a review of most of the leading Dutch of the present, and if I have grown tedious, I must apologise to my readers. CHAPTER X. Type and Trimming. There are one or two other features relating to this comparison of the present with the past that I should like to allude to, and that is the marked tendency among our leading judges to improve the type of our winning Dutch. Many may think that judges are not the ones from whom we must expect improvement, but like everything else, the demand creates the supply, and t hose who know anything about exhibition life, know well that the great secret of success is " to tickle the judge's fancy." This may be considered a very vulgar phrase, but everyone knows that if judges are demanding, by their awards, improvement in any particular direction, that quality will certainly be forthcoming, and those who know that the large coarse Dutch are being dropped because of their bad shape, at once set about putting their breeding arrangements in order, so that they may correct the bad points which judges are setting their faces against. That Dutch have improved in shape no one will deny, but I am hoping that we shall get them a lot shorter in the back and couplings, short limbs of finer bone, and smaller heads with thin and short ears. ^ ^ 1 a Cl^ '^ bt o ^ e 1^ s ^ TYPE AND TRIMMING. 57 I may say that it is a great fallacy on the part of some to think that size in Dutch is governed by feeding ; improvement must come by choice of parents in the direction indicated above ; get them with these points, and, carefully mated and judiciously fed, and no fear need be felt of their getting too large. My experience of Dutch is that they must be shown in nice condition as regards flesh to show off their markings to advantage, because if they lack flesh their markings are always more or less wavy ; this particularly applies to the collar. I may add that one cannot decide the type of Dutch by the application of the weight principle. A Dutch under five pounds is not of necessity good type, nor is one over five pounds necessarily bad type. Still. I like them of a size and shape that would, if they answered my idea, never exceed this limit. The great feature, however, in a Dutch will always be its markings, and whilst great attention has been paid to the other points, marking is still the fascinating feature, and the reason of their popularity. On this point I should like to make a few references as to Dutch being penned in a perfectly natural state. I know there are some who think it an impossibility to win successfully without trimming. This is altogether mis- leading as I am positive that several of our most successful Dutch of recent years have never been touched, and if it were not that I might be thought partial, I could name those who pen their stock in a perfectly natural state. 58 TYPE AND TRIMMING. In respect to this question of trimming, I claim to be one of the leaders of the crusade against trimming, and I may say that since such was started, the Dutch Club has been most successful. Dutch have been shown far more honestly than hitherto, and they have realised far higher prices, a test which proves that fanciers are prepared to pay large amounts, if they are certain they are buying an honest specimen. To anyone who has had any experience with a question of this kind, it will be a natural sequence. It involved a very large amount of labour to cripple this vile tumour, which had grown to such an extent that faking a few yearg back had got the upper hand, and it was very difficult to suggest an effectual remedy. The Investigation Committee has, generally speaking, done its work well, and if our judges only act fearlessly, I am sure that faking will never grow to the extent it attained hitherto. Fashion rules most things, and strange to say, fashion had deeply rooted an impression in the minds of many that Dutch were trimmed, that to win it was necessary to trim, and judges having let trimming get the upper hand, were scarcely able to make up their minds how and where to suppress it. To blame the judges was shifting the responsibility on to the shoulders of those who were not the offenders, and they did not care to incur a life-long displeasure, because by disqualifying an exhibit, they branded its owner as being guilty of dis- honest practices. TYPE AND TRIMMING. 59 I am pleased to say that all this has been changed, the judges, or a majority of them, disqualifying all those exhibits not shown naturally, whilst the owners have the right to appeal against the decisions, and also of giving an explanation to the Dutch Club Committee. However, of trimming, I may say, that the tumour has been cut out roots and all, and I feel sure that present day fanciers will never allow it to grow again. I would urge all to nip it in the bud by assisting those who are doing their best to rid the Fancy of this unwholesome pest. If fanciers will only buy honest exhibits, and set their faces against prepared and worthless specimens, the faker will die a natural death. There is no honour, surely, in a prize won with a specimen that has been made to exhibit points of excellence it never naturally possessed. The position is a debasing lie, and let us hope, for the the sake of one of the prettiest exhibition rabbits, that it will continue to be shown honestly and fairly. Don't blame the judges. Their task is a very unthankful one, and I know that I have made innumerable enemies over disqualification. My reply has always been that the enemies I had made, and so-called friends I had lost, I could do very well without. I have no sympathy with those who countenance dishonest practices because such are fashionable, and I have a perfect hatred of those, who, having won prizes with worthless specimens, turn and abuse judges with that scurrility that is only equalled by their love of ill-gotten gain. I remember writing 6o TYPE AND TRIMMING. the above sentence in 1893, ^"<^ "ow nearly four years after, the trimming brigade has been crippled, and what do we find ? Why, Dutch are winning specials for best in show oftener than any other variety. This proves that there is not the slightest necessity to trim them to secure recognition at the hands of our judges. I always claim that any man who can breed live stock where markings are the chief characteristics, to a near approach to perfection, and maintain the other good points such as size, shape, colour, carriage, &c., deserves all the encouragement that can possibly be given him, especially when the exhibits are penned honestly. I must ask my readers' indulgence in extending this part of my treatise so long, but so much depends upon this question of trimming, and its wretched consequences if allowed to grow is my only excuse for so doing. One other point that I should like to refer to is faulty eyes. This question is continually cropping up, and the most frequent is specks. Now, to my mind, the eyes should be perfectly free from any discolouration whatever, and in all cases take the exact colour of its coat. I have always held the opinion that the trouble arises from crossing the various colours, and at times using wall-eyed Dutch in the breeding pen. I should advise fanciers to rigorously avoid using rabbits in the mating pens that have this defect, as no fault is so faithfully transmitted to the progeny as unsound eyes, and once it gets into a stock, it is continually cropping up, and generally in the TYPE AND TRIMMING. 6l best marked ones. Another defect that looks like causinpf considerable trouble is wrong coloured eyes, and generally arises in blacks having eyes that are properly coloured for a rabbit of a tortoise colour. This is not easily noticeable, but at first it looks unnatural, and on close examination, of course, very much so, and is, to my mind, a great defect. One or two noted Dutch occur to my mind that had this serious defect. One was a black exhibited by Mr. A. Moore, for which report has it /"iS was paid ; be this as it may, it no doubt prevented this doe leading as she would have done. Another still more recent occurence was a black exhibited by Messrs. Thompson and Harland. With this review of past and present I must close this, I fear, not very interesting chapter, and I hope the few remarks may prove encouraging to those who are helping by their endeavours to foster the advance- ment of the Dutch Fancy. IfS, SOUTH' STEEIT, ^^^^ WALWORTH, LONDON, S.E. Breeder and Exhibitor . OF . High=class Dutch Rabbits. Several well known Exhibitors have been supplied with Winners bred by me. I have always for Sale Youngsters for Exhibition, Breeding Stock. BUCKS at STUD, all Colours. Seen any time by appointment. <^^'^^ €3l. 7^ . MOSS, K'^X^^ BREEDER and EXHIBITOR . OF HIGH-CLASS DUTCH RABBITS. e e Q WINNER OF THE DUTCH CLUB CHALLENGE CUP, MEDALS, and OVER 200 PRIZES and HONOURS. I HAVE MADE DUTCH MY SPECIALITY FOR MANY YEARS. Breeding Does and Youngsters lOxs ALWAYS ON SALE, AT PRICES TO SUIT ALL PURSES. Warranted same Strain as my noted Black Doe, "Black Beauty." -> BUCKS AT STUD, v* We always hare some grand Bucks for Stock purposes, at very Reasonable Prices, bred from the above and other grand Bucks. S. B. WALLIS & SON, = Grocers, = -o(?4 CAMBRIDGE. Rabbitry and Private Address : ST. BARNABAS ROAD, CAMBRIDGE. THE FANCIERS' GAZETTE AND HOMING WORLD. ESTABLISHED 1874. Every Wednesday, One Penny, Post Free, 6/6 Yearly. Ilf The ONLY PAPER DEALING EXCLUSIVELY with POULTRY . and PIGEONS. Prompt Show Reports. i Chatty Homing Notes. I Early Race Results. I Seasonable and Practical Articles. Offices: IDLE, Bradford. TOM BATTY, 30, New street, HENLEY-QN-THAMES, Can always supply a few reliable DUTCH of the Best Strains, all Colours, at prices within the reach of all. No Unhealthy Weeds or Stiuffler$ sent out. STUD BUCK: Fee, one doe, 2/- ; two, 3/6; three, 4/6. Your Rabbit's Name written in gold on painted tin, 1/-. This supplies a long-felt want. No hutch is complete without it. TTT- -,_j FEE. 2/6. sxuiD. ^i^tk Btitcb IBtirk, ^iniiE^r, Winner of fifteen Money Prizes, Sire of Cleopatra — the Palace winner 1895 and 1896 — and Sire of my noted Tortoiseshejl Dutch Doe, Duchess — winner of sixteen ist, twelve 2nd and twelve Special Prizes, including ist and two Specials twice at Middlesbro, 1st and Special ^Vakefield, ist and Special, and Special for Best Dutch in Show, Perth, ist Arbroath, ist Newcastle, ist Hartlepool. A FEW YOUNGSTERS ALWAYS ON SALE. 30, Bottomley street, MIDDLESBRO. DUTCH FANCIERS TAKE NOTICE. DURING the month of August, 1896, with one Exhibit alone I won ist, Spl. Witton Park, ist Castleford. ist. Spl. Barnsley, 2nd Brandon, 3rd Crook, 3rd Wihon, 1st Shildon, 2nd Hutton Rudby, 2nd Great Ayton, ist, Spl. Rise Carr, ist, Spl. Tudhoe, 2nd Willington. The above alone will speak for the quality of my stock. Numerous prizes under all the leading judges. Y0UNOSTCR8, Breeding Stock and Exhibition Specimens always on Sale. CHAMPION BUCKS AT STUD. T. SCOTT, 64, Tatham St., SUNDERLAND. 4 JOHN MALLEY,* ROSE COTTAGE, -t^^ HOQHTON, Near Preston. Mnith flabWts, {OR the last Seven Years I have been one of the Largest Exhibitors (if not the lar^^est), and duringf that time I have been carefully selectins^ a Strain — which decidedly has no equal. In the last half=year of 1896 I won 51 First Prizes, 4 Specials for Best Rabbit in Show, 23 other Specials, the Dutch Club Challenge Cup for Greys — the second year in succession — the Gold Medal, Best Dutch, Crystal Palace, 28 Second Prizes and 7 Third Prizes. My VENT OIN TMENT is acknowledged by the Fancy the only practical, certain and speedy cure. Scores of Testimonials have been published in " Fur and Feather." Eightpence per box, post free. 209, NEWPORT ROAD, MIDDLESBOROUGH, Breeder and Exhibitor of . . . . High-class DUTCH RABBITS. Since 1886 he has turned out of his Rabbitrv such well-known winners as : — "TOURIST," "TRAVELLER," "CHIEFTAIN," "CAPTURE," "GIPSY KING," "BLUE LASS," "CHEAP THING," "MODEL," "WHAT'S WANTED," and the sensational i8gz youngster, ■' NONPARIEL," &c , &c., &c. Winner of over 200 prizes at all the leading exhibitions, under nearly every judge. Has generally Youngsters and Adults for Show and Stock on sale. Satisfaction guaranteed Note Address. —0. TURNER, 209, NEWPORT RD., MIDDLESBRO', Yorks IF YOU KEEP A RABBIT For Fancy or Exhibition, YOU OUGHT TO READ. "Fur and Fcatt|cr" REGULARLY. THE ONLY PAPER DEVOTED TO RABBITS, CATS, CAVIES, & CAGE-BIRDS. Every Thursday. One Penny. All Newsagents. Post Free,' 6s. 6d. Yearly. Offices: -IDLE, BRADFORD, YORKS. W. BROOKE STEVENS, Breeder and Exhibitor of H«gh=class DUTCH RABBITS and MINORCA FOWLS. Sittings from Minovcas 2/6 each. ..<5X Mill Bank Cottage, MANSFIELD. k^>. THE IDEAL OF A DUTCHMAN AT STUD. My Noted TOR TOISE BUC K SUNLIGHT, Acknowledged by "Fur and Feather" to be one of the most typical specimens ever seen in the Show Pen. WEIGHT 37= LBS. WINNER OF THE FOLLOWING PRIZES : ' ist, Spl. Heme Bay Open ; 2nd Lincoln ; ist, Spl. — Gold centre Medal best Dutch in Siiow- Accrington; ist, Spl. — Silver Medal best Dutch in Show — South Shields- 2nd Gomersal (Mr. Mason says "decidedly best shaped Dutch in Show"); ist Gran; tham ; ist, Spl East Grinstead ; ist Canterbury; ist, Spl. Gosport; and numerous others. FEE, 3/-. SOME GOOD STOCK ALWAYS ON SALE CHEAP. GEO. FrOlaEV, K^K^ ^ Heme Bay, KENT. (g. ^xjllir^, tffictoria tills, IBarnsUg, BREEDER and EXHIBITOR of HIQH-CLASS -> DUTCH RABBITS. <- Breeding and Exhibition Stock always on Sale. GRAND BUCKS AT STUD. IDOTCM ! I Ten Years' Careful Breeding. A I Strain. * Many Prizes, Honours and Testi= Clean Necked. I monials received. STOCK FOR SALE. BUCKS AT STUD. jilso Black-and-Tans, rich in colour. Crystal Palace Winning Strain. N.B. — Special attention given to Orders from Abroad. Address: j- V^HXTE, Upton=on=Severn. GEORGE LISTER & SON, !BrMti«ra antt CKiljibitors of KeX. Higlj-rlass luttl) Habbita, During the past twenty years, have bred ,a great many Winners. NOTE ADDRESS :— ROSE COTTAGE. HAREWOGD. nr. Leeds. E. F. BALL, Breeder and Exhibitor of ^=i= Champion Dutch Rabbits. -^