RABBIT, a well known rodent, formerly called cony. The rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, is a member of the family Leporidae (see RODENTIA). From the hare (q.v.) the rabbit is distinguished by its smaller size, shorter ears and feet, absence of black on the ears and grey colour ; by the facts that the young are born naked and blind and that it lives in burrows in the ground. It breeds from four to eight times a year, a litter comprising three to eight young. It begins to breed at the age of six months and lives seven or eight years.
Originally inhabiting the western half of the Mediterranean basin, the rabbit has spread, partly by the agency of man, throughout temperate Europe, and it is still extending its range. Introduced into New Zealand and Australia, where natural enemies were few, it has increased beyond bounds and is now an unmitigated nuisance. In North America some 57 forms are known, of which the commonest is the cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus). (See HARE for other American Leporidae.) The rabbit has long been domesticated, and the variations produced are greater than in any other mammal except the dog (q.v.). For not only has the weight been quadrupled and the structure of the skeleton modified, but the proportionate size of the brain has been reduced (cf. the domestic duck) and the colour and texture of the fur remarkably altered. The old English lop eared breed may have ears 23 in. from tip to tip and 6 in. in width. The hardy and prolific Belgian hare resembles the true hare in colour and form, while a similar but larger variety is the (so-called) Patagonian rabbit. The Angora rabbit has very long
fur, which is of commercial value; the most valued variety is the albino. The Dutch breed is small and particoloured, being dark posteriorly and white anteriorly. The silver grey is much es teemed for its skin, while the Flemish giant is the biggest of all breeds.
Modern dressing and dyeing methods have developed rabbit fur (known to the fur trade as "coney") into the most satisfac tory of low priced furs for wear ing qualities. Because it lends itself readily to dyeing it is used in great quantities in imitation of such furs as squirrel, seal, beaver, nutria, Chinchilla, musk rat, ermine, leopard and still others. Various tame varieties of rabbits, which are heavier, and have a fur stronger and less liable to shed, are being raised in in creasing numbers, especially in Belgium and France, to supply the demand. Because of the ex cellent felting properties of rabbit fur it now forms the largest proportion of fur going into the manufacture of felt hats. Forty to fifty rabbit skins furnish material for a dozen hats. Rabbit fur is also in demand for up holstery purposes. The supply of rabbits for the hat industry comes chiefly from Australia (which for some years has averaged 70,000,000 skins annually), New Zealand, Belgium, France and England.