ront to keep him in. The next
morning I was very much surprised to find that bunny had gnawed his way
out, and was busily engaged in eating up my last rose-bush.

The next house I built for him was against the back-yard fence. In front
of the house I tacked wire netting, and in addition made a yard for him
in which to run about, taking good care to cover over the top, so "brer
rabbit" could not escape by jumping out. I thought I had him secure this
time, but when I was at school he burrowed out under the fence, and ate
up all the neighbors' flowers. My first week's experience was certainly
very trying on my pocket-book.

[Illustration: DIAGRAM OF THE HOUSE AND YARD.]

Rabbits make very interesting pets if one knows how to take care of
them. The house shown in the accompanying diagram proved to be a very
serviceable one. It is divided into two "rooms," and has a small run
attached. The floor of the house should be provided with sliding pans,
which will make clearing an easy matter. In order to keep all dampness
from the house it is necessary to raise it a few inches from the ground.
In winter--that is, in very severe weather--it would be best to carry
this house in-doors. In order to keep the rabbits from burrowing out, it
is necessary to drive down stakes, about two feet long, close together,
all around the yard. A box sunk in the earth at the further end of the
yard, with an opening so that bunny can go in and out, is a luxury that
he will greatly appreciate.

For feeding rabbits, give them oats, corn, all kinds of greens, carrots,
raw sweet-potatoes, tea-leaves (after they come from the teapot), and
milk. I have heard it said that rabbits do not drink, but this is a
mistake, as I have had over sixty rabbits at a time, and never knew of
one that did not drink.

It is considered best to keep the buck away from the doe until the young
are a month old, as he is apt to trample them. The number of young
varies from four to eight. They are born without fur, and their eyes are
shut. It usually takes ten days for them to open their eyes and get
their coats. The first little fellow who ventures from the nest is
regarded to be the smartest one of the litter.

I have only been able to discover three species of rabbits--the Angora,
with long silky hair; the lop-eared, with very long cars which drag on
the ground; and the common rabbit, with which most of us are familiar.

Rabbits are very good barometers in their way. Befor