Pets for pleasure and profit

Introduction

Whether civilized or savage, city-bred or living in the country, boys of every age and nation are fond of pets. The boy without a tame bird or animal of some sort is to be pitied, for in the companionship of a dumb creature lies a wonderful amount of pleasure, while affection, humanity, and love are fostered and developed to a great extent by caring for pets.

A domesticated bird or animal, properly fed and cared for, is beyond a doubt far better off and far happier than its wild cousins, but if improperly treated and fed its lot is far from enviable. A great many pets no doubt suffer from disease, mistreatment, and improper food, but in nearly every case this is due to lack of knowledge or mistaken kindness rather than to intentional cruelty on the part of the owner.

Of course many boys, and grown-ups as well, are brutal or cruel by nature and seem to take supreme pleasure in teasing or maltreating the unfortunate birds and animals that come under their power. Such people would no doubt be just as cruel to children or to their fellow men and the fact that they are naturally unfitted to control any living thing is no reason for discouraging others from keeping pets.

Unfortunately, there is a great dearth of books or pamphlets treating of the care and rearing of pet birds and animals, and this book has been prepared with the purpose of filling this long-felt want.

V vi INTRODUCTION

Numerous handbooks have been written dealing with some one group or class of animals or birds, such as dogs, cats, pigeons, canaries, etc., but no general work containing full directions and rules for rearing, feeding, and caring for every kind of pet has hitherto been published.

To many boys the unusual appeals most strongly, and for this reason the author has devoted a great deal of space to describing various beasts and birds that are seldom seen in confinement, but which are particularly adapted to life in captivity and make excellent pets.

Some of these animals are regularly domesticated in their native lands but are never seen in our own country, save in menageries and zoological gardens; and yet their docility, intelligence, handsome colors, and interesting habits particularly fit them for household pets.

Others are of value mainly for large estates or for profit, and for this reason have been included, for it is a hard matter to draw the line between true pets and animals or birds reared for profit. Out of every flock or herd some individual will develop unusual traits and intelligence and, whether chicken, goose, calf, or colt, a pet will be made of it.

As a knowledge of natural surroundings, food, and habits are essential to the proper care and feeding of any foreign bird or animal, the author has given as much information on these matters as possible and the reader who is interested in natural history will find not a little valuable instruction in the descriptions of the wild birds and animals.

During many years' experience as a naturalist and naturalhistory collector the author has had ample opportunity to study the dispositions and habits of animals, birds, and reptiles, and it is his firm conviction that there are very

INTRODUCTION • vu

few wild creatures which cannot be tamed and domesticated by kindness, and proper care and feeding.

Some of our native animals and birds make splendid pets and yet are seldom seen in captivity, while foreign species of the same families are commonly domesticated. White mice and white rats, cats, dogs, squirrels, and rabbits are all favorites and yet the dainty deer-mice, wood-rats, flying squirrels, prairie-dogs, woodchucks, coons, coyotes, foxes, and the odd raccoon-fox of the southwestern States are far more interesting and become just as tame and affectionate in captivity. We are all accustomed to parrots, mina birds, and pigeons as pets, but bluejays, crows, nutcrackers, and other native birds are far easier to raise and are more interesting.

Many of our native American wild fowl and ducks are particularly well fitted for domestication, and breed and increase readily in captivity, and with the increasing scarcity of our wild birds and animals it is of great importance to rear them in confinement, for only in this way can many species be prevented from disappearing completely from our land. Descriptions of all these native species suitable for rearing in a state of domestication are included in the work, with directions for their care and feeding.

A great many of our native birds and animals can be purchased tame, from dealers in ornamental and fancy stock, but boys living in the country or outlying districts can usually obtain their stock by trapping or by rearing the young.

The illustrations have been prepared with the object of showing the various birds and animals treated in the text, and, in the case of such domestic animals as rabbits, guinea-pigs, etc., the characteristics of the more noteworthy "fancy"

viil INTRODUCTION

varieties. The plans for cages, hutches, runs, and other enclosures have been drawn especially for this book and embody the very latest and most improved designs for their various purposes. Wherever possible, several different designs have been provided, in order that the reader may select the one best suited to his needs and surroundings.

Part I — Mammals Chapter Page

I. General Remarks and Suggestions . . i

Hints on keeping pets. Choice of pets.

II. Rabbits and Hares ii

Care and housing. Feeding. Breeding. Diseases. Hares for market. Fancy rabbits. Wild hares and rabbits.

III. Guinea-Pigs or Cavies and Their Relatives ... 29

Care and housing. Feeding. Breeding. Diseases Bolivian agouti cavies. Bolivian tortoise-shell cavies Bolivian Dutch-marked cavies. Peruvian cavies Abyssinian cavies. Animals related to the guinea-pig Agoutis. The pampas cavy. The paca. Capybaras Chinchillas. Viscachas. Porcupines.

IV. Squirrels and Their Kin 43

Housing. Feeding. Care and breeding. Varieties of squirrels. Animals related to squirrels.

V. Large Rodents — Woodchucks and Other

Marmots 56

Woodchucks. Care and housing. Feeding. Habits. "Peter," the story of a pet woodchuck. Other marmots.

VI. Rats and Mice 72

Tame rats and mice. Care, housing, and feeding. Wild mice and rats. Other rat-like creatures, ix

CONTENTS

VIl. Carnivorous Animals 82

Raccoons and their cousins. Care and housing. Feeding. The raccoon-fox. The coati. Kinkajous. The opossum. The bear. The story of a pet bear. Foxes and wolves.

VIII. Dogs loi

History and varieties. Care and housing. Feeding. Training. CleanUness. Diseases.

IX. Cats and Catlike Animals 118

Domestic cats. Care and housing. Feeding. Breeds of cats. Diseases of cats. Wildcats. Other catlike animals. The hunting leopard.

X. Monkeys and Monkey-like Creatures . 133

Uakaris. Capuchins. Marmosets. Old World monkeys. Care and housing. Feeding. Diseases. Lemurs.

XI. Ruminants and Hoofed Animals . . . 153

Deer. Antelope. The goat. Dwarf antelope. Peccary. Cony.

PART II— BIRDS XII. Canaries 160

General care and cages. Feeding. Breeding. Breeding-cages and nests. Rearing the young. Diseases. Various breeds of canaries. The Saint Andreasburg canary. The Campanini Holden. The English canaries. The red canary. The gold-spangled lizard canary.

XIII. Song and Ornamental Cage-Birds . . . 183

Cages and aviaries. Flying-cages. Training birds. The European goldfinch. The bullfinch. The siskin. The chaffinch. The linnet. Brazilian cardinal. The Java sparrow. Finches. Soft-billed birds. The nightingale. The blackcap. Skylark. Song-thrush. Blackbird. English robin. Japanese robin. Clarinos. Shama thrush. Mocking-bird. Troopial. Starling. Wax wing.

CONTENTS XI

XIV. Parrots and Talking Birds 216

Care and feeding. Training. Diseases. The African gray parrot. The green parrot. Dwarf parrots. Paroquets. Lories. Cockatoos. . Macaws. Toucans. Crows. Jays. Magpies. Motmots. The mynah.

XV. Wild Birds 237

Care and feeding. Obtaining wild birds. Rearing young birds. Hawks and owls. Crows, ravens, and similar birds. Blackbirds. Sparrows.

XVI. Game-Birds and Wild Fowl 249

Raising game-birds as pets. Pheasants. General care. Pens and runs. Handling new birds. Breeding. Hatching. Rearing the chicks. Feeding. Diseases. Diseases mainly affecting adult pheasants. Varieties of pheasants. Other game-birds.

XVII. Water-Fowl and Wading-Birds .... 290

Habits and care. Wild ducks. Tree-ducks. Ornamental and wild geese. Swans. Gulls and terns. Herons. Cranes. Storks. Flamingoes. Pelicans. Spoonbills. Cormorants. Ibis. Shore-birds. Galliiiules. Screamers.

XVIII. Doves and Pigeons 308

Common pigeons. Cage and breeding loft. Feeding. Nests. Wild doves and pigeons.

PART III— AQUARIUMS AND REPTILES XIX. Fresh-Water Aquariums 321

Preparation. Animals and plants. Collecting the specimens. Care and feeding.

XX. Salt-Water Aquariums 334

Preparation. Collecting the specimens. Care and feeding. Specimens of peculiar interest.

XXI. Reptiles 347

Reptiles as pets. Lizards. Horned toads. Gila monsters. Alligators. Iguanas. Turtles. Snakes.

ILLUSTRATIONS

FACING PAGE / FACING PAGE

Agouti 36 Goose, Egyptian . . . 300 r

Avadavat 196 //^Gopher, Pouched ... 80 1/

Black Cap 210 j/Cjround-Squirrel,Thirteen-

Capuchin ^\\ V Lined, or Spermophile . 46 ^

Capybara 36 i/Grouse, Sand 288 ^

Cardinal, Brazilian . . . 214 j/lSuereza 144 ^

Cat, Margay 130 t' Guinea-Pig, Abyssinian . 36 '^

Cavy, Patagonian . . . 36 »^Guinea-Pig, Bolivian . . li^ y

Chachalaca 288 1/ Guinea-Pig, Dutch ... 36 ' ,

Chameleon, True . . . 354 v^Guinea-Pig, Peruvian . . 36-' .

Chinchilla 36 U' Hamster 80 ^

Chipmunk 52 y'' Hawks, Young . Frontispiece ^

Chipmunk's hole, section /Hermit-Crab 344 iX*

of 52 ^Hutch 24 l^

Civet 130 '^ Hutch, Breeding ... 24*^

Clam, Razor 340 ''^ Hutch, Movable, in tiers . 24^^

Coati 88 <Hutch, Outdoor .... 24 ^

Cockatiel 228 '^Implements for collecting

Cockatoo, Leadbeater's . 218 ^j aquatic life 340 ;

Cony 158 , Jay, European .... 234 \y'

Coral 338 1^ Jerboa jG *^

Crane, Demoiselle . . . 306 ''' Kinkajou 88 i^

Curassow 288 ' Lemming 80 *^

Dormouse 46 '^ Lemur 150 - "^

Dove, Ground . . . . 318 • Lerot 46^

Dove, Quail 318 Linnet, Red 196 ^

Dove, Turtle 318* Lizard, West Indian . . 354*^

Duck, Mandarin .... 300 »^ove-Birds, Red-Faced . 228 {/"

Duck, Wood 296 "^acaw. Red 218 »^

Duykerbox 158 •'.Magpie 234 ^

Finch, Lavender .... 196 ^ Marmoset 144 '^

Genet 130 'Marmoset, White-Eared . 140 *^

Gila Monster 354 / J^onkey, Bearded . . . 144*'^

Goldfish, Fancy . . . . 326 i^Ionkey, Midas . . . . 140 i^

XIV

ILLUSTRATIONS

FACING

Motmot ....

Mouse, Harvest . .

Mouse, Pocket . .

Mouse, White-Footed Muntjac ....

Mynah

Opossum ....

Paca

Paroquet, Blossom-Headed Paroquet, Multicolored Parrot, Rock-Pepple .

Partridge, Gambel's Partridge, Massena .

Partridge, Red-Legged Partridge, Scaled . .

Peccary

Pheasant, Copper . .

Pheasant, Eared . .

Pheasant, Elliott's .

Pheasant, Golden Pheasant, Lady Amherst Pheasant, Peacock .

Pheasant, Prince of Wales Pheasant, Reeve's .

Pigeon, Baldhead Pigeon, Barb . . .

Pigeon, Carrier . .

Pigeon, Crowned Pigeon, Fantail .

Pigeon, Jacobin .

Pigeon, Nun .

Pigeon, Owl .

Pigeon, Trumpeter .

Pigeon, Tumbler Pigeon, Turbit . .

Pinche

Porcupine, African .

Post with netting for enclosure

232^

76^

76 ■

158 ^

88/

36;

228'

228 ■

282 ^'

282 ;

284 ;

316 ■/

316 '

FACING

Prairie-Dog . .

Rabbit, Himalayan

Rabbit, Japanese

Rabbit, Lop-Ear

Rabbit, Patagonian

Rabbit, Siberian

Raccoon ...

Raccoon-Fox .

Robin, English .

Robin, Japanese

Sea-Anemone

Sea-Anemone

Sea-Cucumber

Sea-Urchin

Screamer .

Seriama

Siskin

Skylark

Sparrow, Cutthroat

Sparrow, Java

Squirrel, European

Squirrel, Flying .

Squirrel, Gray

Squirrel, Red .

Starfish, Serpent .

Taguan

Tamarin, or Marikina

Thrush, Shama

Thrush, Song

Tinamou .

Titi ....

Toad, Horned

Troopial

Waxbill, Crimson-Eared

Waxbill, Orange-Cheek

Waxbill, St. Helena .

Waxwing

Wings, how to clip .

Woodchuck ....

•

CHAPTER I GENERAL REMARKS AND SUGGESTIONS Hints on Keeping Pets

FEW boys are really happy without a pet. Even if it is only a mongrel puppy, a lowly mudturtle, or a scraggly fowl, the youthful owner thinks it the most intelligent, beautiful, and affectionate creature in the world and loves it with his whole heart and soul.

To keep and care for living things is most interesting and instructive and, if properly done, will often prove a source of profit as well as of pleasure. All too frequently, however, pets are neglected and suffer greatly through ignorance of their wants or through lack of proper preparation for their needs. Many pets are acquired accidentally; a wounded bird, a helpless nesthng, or a stray cat or dog is found and carried home; no provision has been made for the unexpected addition to the household and the pet is placed, in some extemporized cage or box and fed on

I anything and everything it will devour. Through overfeeding, improper shelter, too much handling, or from lack of its natural food, the poor creature dies; and yet no knowledge of its wants or its proper care has been gained by the unfortunate experience.

Before keeping any variety of pet you should study the requirements and peculiarities of the various kinds; for only with a knowledge of what is needed and what you can furnish can you judge intelligently of the best pet to adopt.

It is a mistake to try to keep too many different kinds of birds or animals, for if the variety is great it will require the utmost care and constant attention to look after their various kinds of food, their numerous peculiarities, and individual wants; and in the end you will become tired of all pets or will gradually ehminate certain kinds and confine yourself to one variety — which you might better have done in the first place.

The kind of pets you decide to keep should depend very largely upon your location, your surroundings, your tastes, and the purpose for which you intend to keep them. If you live in a city and have only a small plot of ground or a stable, you should not attempt to raise wild things. Animals and birds that have been bred for centuries in confinement, such as rabbits, cavies, dogs, cage-birds, etc., should be selected.

If, on the other hand, you live in the country and have plenty of room at your disposal, you can raise almost any kind of pet; and many birds and animals

GENERAL REMARKS AND SUGGESTIONS 3

may be bred with profit, and their progeny sold at good prices for the market or for their furs or pelts.

While such birds and animals are not strictly pets, yet certain individuals of your stock will show unusual traits of affection and intelligence, and these may be kept as real pets.

Poultry of the common varieties can hardly be considered for pets, for although certain classes of fowls which are kept for purely ornamental purposes will prove very interesting and valuable pets, and their beauty alone will make them wonderfully attractive, a hen, a rooster, or a duck is, as a rule, stupid and uninteresting. Poultry raising, under proper conditions very profitable, is, however, a profession in itself and cannot be properly included in a work devoted to pets.

If you live in a dry country and no natural water is at hand you should not attempt to rear ducks, geese, or other water-fowl, for while certain kinds of water-birds will live and breed without water, yet, as a rule, they do far better if amply provided with their natural element. On the other hand, if you live in a wet, damp, marshy, or rainy district you should not try to raise birds or animals that require dry air and plenty of sunshine, such as prairie-dogs, pheasants, rabbits, or antelope.

Choice of Pets

The kind of pets to keep to best advantage also depends a great deal upon the local markets and the faciUties you may have for procuring food for your charges. If you live in a district where truck-gardening is carried on you may raise ahnost any sort of bird and most animals of an herbivorous nature; but if in a grain or hay district where fresh, green vegetables are hard to procure, or are expensive, you should not try to raise birds or animals for profit that require vegetables for food. In many sections of the country fur-bearing, carnivorous animals, such as foxes, skunks, mink, otter, wolves, and lynx may be bred and reared in captivit}^ with very profitable results; but if you are far from meat supplies, or in a country where small animals and insects are scarce, you should not attempt to raise them.

For pets that may be fondled and handled a great deal, animals are preferable to birds; few species of birds will survive petting or handling, and usually they have strong objections to being touched. Crows, jays, hawks, certain parrots and paroquets, doves, gulls, and Java Sparrows will, however, bear a great deal of handling and exhibit a great amount of affection for their owners; and, as a rule, such birds are very intelligent and are easily taught many tricks.

Even among animals there is a great difference in regard to the amount of petting to which they will submit. Dogs, cats, guinea-pigs, white rats, prairie-dogs, deer, antelope, and many other creatures may be handled and fondled as much as 3'ou wish without apparent injury; but rabbits, although frequently used as real pets, do not thrive well if handled a great deal; and carnivorous creatures, such as foxes, coyotes, rac-

GENERAL REMARKS AND SUGGESTIONS S

coons, and similar animals, are likely to snap or bite if subjected to much fondling.

Fish, turtles, lizards, and even snakes of the harmless varieties make splendid pets and often show great intelligence and affection. Snakes have little intelligence, as a rule, but certain species make very interesting pets, and if you once overcome your natural repugnance to them you will find a great deal of pleasure in keeping them,

A great many people raise pets merely for exhibition and prize-winning purposes; and, while this is not profitable unless you actually win prizes, it is very interesting and instructive. But to raise prize stock requires unremitting care and attention to details, and it is, moreover, rather an expensive pastime. If you do decide to raise exhibition pets you should select some variety of a recognized class and, if possible, a class not common in your vicinity. The fewer local entries there are the more chance you will have of winning prizes; and, as prize-winning stock will always sell at good prices, you will be able to make running expenses or, perhaps, considerable profit.

If prize stock is to be raised you should never attempt to keep more than one variety of a certain kind of bird or animal. If you try to raise two breeds of canaries, or two breeds of rabbits, you will find it very difficult to give each the proper attention; and if by chance your two breeds become mixed, all your trouble will go for nothing and you will have to start over again.

As a rule, I do not advise hoys to raise exhibition pets, for just as much fun and knowledge can be gained by raising common and mongrel things as by rearing prize stock, with half the trouble and expense. Usually, a very few birds or animals will be all the ordinary boy can properly care for; and, as most domestic birds and animals are fairly prolific, he will have more difficulty in keeping their numbers within reasonable limits than in increasing them.

Many wild birds and animals are easily raised in captivity, and while it is not advisable to keep native song-birds, many shore and water-birds, game-birds, and most wild animals are just as happy and contented and are far better off in captivity than in their natural haunts.

The common idea that a captive bird or animal is unhappy and suffers by captivity is generally erroneous; and while many wild creatures, if captured fully grown, will struggle and pine away, they are perfectly happy and content if taken when young and refuse to resume their wild habits even when given perfect freedom.

The author, while living in Central America, had many odd and unusual wild animals and birds as pets, and after these were reared to full growth in captivity they were given perfect liberty to go and come as they pleased. The forests and jungles were close at hand and while the tame deer and peccaries, the kinkajous and the monkeys wandered off to the w^oods in the day, they invariably returned at night or at feeding time. Quite frequently a tame deer would be seen among its

GENERAL REMARKS AND SUGGESTIONS 7

wild companions, but at sight of its master it would leave the wild deer and prefer the companionship of man to that of its own kind.

Wild geese, wild ducks, gulls, herons, cranes, game-birds, crows, jays, and even many species of song-birds, if reared from the young nestlings, will become so accustomed to human beings and to their surroundings that wild life will no longer attract them. Where wild ducks, geese, gulls, or game-birds are kept tame they will often attract wild birds of their own species, and frequently these wild companions will voluntarily remain with their domesticated friends in preference to continuing their wild life.

Small birds or animals, when wounded or injured, will seldom recover fully and, as a rule, it is more merciful to kill them at once than to try to nurse them back to health. But large animals and birds, when injured or wounded, will often, if cared for, recover entirely and will prove their gratitude for the care bestowed upon them by remaining with their human friends.

A bird with a broken or injured wing or leg will generally recover perfectly in a short time, and even during convalescence seems to suffer very little inconvenience or pain, so that whenever you have an opportunity to secure a wing-tipped duck, goose, gull, crane, ibis, or any other large bird, you may feel confident that you may nurse it back to health and thus obtain an interesting and affectionate pet.

Carnivorous birds, such as hawks and owls, and wild carnivorous animals are very unsatisfactory things to raise, for they are generally savage, ill-tempered creatures, treacherous by nature, and with little or no affection in their make-up.

As any pet requires a great deal of attention and quite a little expense, much better results may often be obtained when several boys combine to keep their pets together. If one boy has the grounds and facilities for keeping and housing his stock, another boy less fortunate in this respect may have more time to attend to them, while still another may be in a position to aid financially or to furnish and raise, the food supplies. This co-operative system will prove very practicable, and each boy may have his individual pets, even if the stock is owned in common.

Before securing your pets you should have everything ready for their reception and plenty of food on hand. If cages are used they should be cleaned and prepared and should be of ample size. If outbuildings and yards are required they should be' in perfect order, clean, and ready for their occupants beforehand.

Most native birds and animals can be safely housed out-of-doors, for they will know enough to look out for themselves, but a shelter of some sort should always be provided.

Foreign birds and animals must have quarters which approach as nearly as possible their normal conditions. Thus northern birds and animals should be provided with shelters that afford cool spots away from the sunshine and should be given plenty of shade, while southern and tropical species must be given warm and cosey

GENERAL REMARKS AND SUGGESTIONS 9

quarters during cold weather. An old greenhouse or a conservatory will often afford splendid quarters for tropical species, but many southern birds and animals will withstand our northern winters if merely furnished a tight, wind-proof building or room. Flamingoes, egrets, cranes, pelicans, and other southern water-fowl will stand ordinary winter weather if provided with a tight shed or building for shelter, but parrots, toucans, monkeys, marmosets, and other tropical birds and animals must be kept at a uniform warm temperature and free from draughts of cold air. Most of these southern creatures have no idea of caring for themselves, and will not know enough to keep warm if not confined in warm quarters.

Just as many native birds and animals are inhabitants of particular kinds of country, so tropical species thrive only when their artificial surroundings resemble those in which they normally live. You would not expect beavers to thrive in a dry, sandy enclosure, nor prairie-dogs to succeed in a swamp, and yet many amateur and professional fanciers will put all tropical birds and animals in a room heated to a certain temperature and with very dry air. In reality, most tropical species require a moist, muggy warmth in order to do well, but such species as armadillos, antelope, tinamous, horned toads, and other species should be kept in a dry, warm air.

In fact, to succeed in rearing or keeping pets of any sort you must study and remember the habits and peculiarities of each species and must be familiar with lO PETS FOR PLEASURE AND PROFIT

the country and climate from which they come. For this reason pet raising — especially if your pets are from foreign countries — will teach you a great deal about nature and natural history and will also add a great deal to your knowledge of geography and the climates and products of distant lands.

Chapter II Rabbits And Hares

EXCEPTING dogs and cats, rabbits are the commonest and most popular of animal pets. They are always great favorites with children, for they are thoroughly domesticated, gentle, easily cared for, and not subject to fleas, lice, or other vermin.

While rabbits are kept as pets in countless numbers, yet few are really properly cared for or fed, and they are often subject to disease. All the tame rabbits we know are descended from the common, wild rabbits of Europe; and although the various breeds or varieties are called by fancy names, such as "English," "Japanese," "Himalayan," etc., these names usually have no connection with their native home.

Most of the pet rabbits are of the English, short-haired variety, and the majority are of mixed or mongrel breeds. While such animals are just as suitable for home pets or for the market as the pure-bred fancy strains, the latter are far handsomer and more attracive than the mongrels, and if the rabbit fancier intends to sell stock, he should aim to keep his rabbits pure and "up to the standard." Pure-bred fancy rabbits will bring good prices, but ordinary, mongrel English rabbits bring but a few cents each.

There are several ways of keeping rabbits, the method to be followed depending largely upon the number of individuals to be kept and the purpose for which they are raised. Where there is plenty of space and a number of animals are to be raised, out-of-door runs or "courts" may be used, whereas small hutches or cages are preferable where there are only a few rabbits, or where fancy breeds are raised.

The out-of-door run or court may be paved or floored, or it may have a floor of earth or grass. It should be enclosed by a wire-netting fence with i>^- inch mesh and at least 3 feet high above ground. The netting should be fastened to stout posts set into the ground to a depth of about 18 inches, and the netting for a space of 6 or 8 inches at the top and 18 inches at the bottom of the posts should be left free so that it may be bent or turned inward. The lower edge of 18 inches should be turned in and covered with at least 12 inches of earth to prevent the rabbits from digging under, and the upper edge of 6 inches should be bent in to prevent the creatures from climbing out. To secure the upper edge in position, cleats or brackets should be fastened to the posts. The enclosure should be provided with sleeping hutches or boxes and these may be any sort of stout, clean, wooden boxes with water-proof paper, linoleum, zinc, tin, or other material fastened over them to keep out the rain. The boxes should have sliding doors so that the rabbits may be confined when desired, and small ventilation holes should be made near the tops. In addition, you should have a few regular breeding hutches for the does.

When keeping rabbits in individual hutches, the hutches should be made of good, clean boards, and they should be large and roomy enough to afford space for the inmates to exercise. By having a number of hutches and placing them in tiers or rows, a large number of rabbits may be kept in a very small space.

A very convenient form of indoor hutch is 6 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet, with a movable partition dividing off about one third of the space at one end for a nest and sleeping chamber. The partition should have a smooth hole for the inmates to pass back and forth from one part of the hutch to the other. The front of the hutch should have two doors, one of wire netting, the other of wood, the latter leading to the sleeping quarters; and this should be arranged to close very tightly. The dividing partition may be arranged to slide in and out in a groove between the doors, or it may be slipped in position through one of the doors, but it should always be removable in order that the hutch may be thoroughly cleansed. The floor should also be removable, or there should be a well-fitting tray placed over it. By using a sliding false floor above the real floor, the hutch may be easily cleaned. If outdoor hutches are desired they should have sloping roofs and eaves overhanging the ends and sides to keep out the rain, and the netting door should have a sliding wooden cover, or a curtain of cloth which may be drawn over the netting in bad weather. In any case, ventilating holes at the top of the hutch should be provided, for it is just as necessary to ventilate your rabbit's room as your own.