New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-19
FLEMISH GIANT RABBITS.
American Fanciers Are Importing Many
Fine Specimens from English Breeders.

ApparentIv the attention Of most rabbit fanciers
has drifted away from one OF the finest members Of
the species the Flemish Giants, which. in the mar
lets OF Europe have been the source Of consd-
cradle profit. Recently however the American
breeders have begun to import some OF the choicest
Of the English stock with the result that the breed
bids fair to become popular in this country.
The Flemish Giant. Geant De Flandre, was
considered thirty years ago, rather rare rabbit
in England. Cunniculus, the noted pet stock au-
thorty made a special request in 1875 upon the
British fanciers and the Jardn de Acclimation for
a description OF these animals. He describes them
as sandy-gray in color with erect ears, and
chunky appearance that might lead one to mistake
them for a cat I'm the distance He gives the weight
Of a specimen which he in Paris eighteen
pounds
The standards Of to-day. however, differ IN color
from the animals described by Cunniculus The
English standard calls for a dark iron-gray body
color with the color and ticking evenly distributed
over the body and the legs. The under belly and
the under part of the tail should be pure white
The body should be large and roomy and fat with
broad chest and headquarters.
The does should have dewlaps that are evenly
carried. The legs and feet should be large in bone
strong and straight, and match the body color
The ears should be reasonably thick about six
inches long, and carried erect and. with the head
match the body color; the head should be fun
large and shapely with large. bold eyes which
should be dark brown I'm color The head for the
size Of the body, should be somewhat on the bull
dog type. The coat should be fun and short and
the flesh firm and healthy
The size and weight Of these animals count 30
points out Of 100 in judging, and the minimum set
by the English standard is thirteen pounds for the
does ana eleven pounds for the bucks In Judging
color counts 20 points body Is; legs Il: head and
ears 10 and condition, 10
- The standard established by the defuuct
the same as the English standard but tooB exoey
ton TO the under belly color, which II said should
be black dark slate. The American Fur Fan
cieIs Association, the new organization here. will
giving the breeder something harder TO strive for
The chief faults encountered are brown red or
sandy color, small size, low legs, wedge
shaped head. looping ears and camel back Nv
back that does not disappear when the animal lies
In almost every specimen there is found a little
touch OF reddish fur between the shoulder blades
which probably is a relic of the original sandy
brown type from which the breed sprung There
frequently appear in litter specimens Of sandy
brown and black. These are not standard color
Of course, bat the blacks Of especial value for
breeding purposes. as they usually produce progeny
In breeding qualities The Flemish Giants have
lost none OF ne fecundity of The rabbit tribe as
rabbits the PatagoHians. for example The does
have from six 10 twelve offspring litter There
10 tWenty-Cne ar litter. but such happenings are
rare. Flemish Giants can be bred as rapidly as
Belgians. bur for prize stock two 10 four matlugs
a year are the usual number.
The young rabbits appear, at the end Of about
from TWO 70 three pounds at four weeks or even
less. At four months they will average from
ers az this age if intended market. From four
tn1Inihs on I'd maturity the gain in weight viii De
VIII weigh from fifteen 10 twenty pounds
. I4ese rabbits are more Intelligent than most Of
Ne bIeecs permit considerable fondlins and show
la-uc Or 10 Tear Of man. The Youngsters, while
laslIls s., Lut me run grown Flemish Giants eat no
more than TIE average rabbit in proportion TO size
They are a hardy breed and he does are usually
the best market variety known '''01