THE DOMESTICATED RABBIT
The domesticated rabbit has been bred for more than one hundred years in an extensive fashion. It has centered largely in Belgium and other Continental countries of Europe. Germany produced a variety of large rabbits having a white pelt dotted with black spots. This rabbit was an offshoot from the old Belgian giant.
It seems that most of the breeds coming from Europe have originated from the Belgian hare which, in fact, is not a hare at all but a rabbit. It takes its name from the fact that the breeders in England attempted and partially succeeded in breeding the Belgian rabbit to such a state that it closely resembled the wild English hare. Hence the name.
About thirty years ago there was a tremendous craze over the Belgian hare in this country. It swept the nation like a forest fire.
