Weight: 7-8 1/2 pounds
Colors: The Japanese pattern and Magpie pattern in Black, Blue, Chocolate, andf Lilac
Bred for: Show or Pet
The harlequin pattern is like the agouti pattern, except instead of haphazardly random colors in the fur, the hairs are put in specific, blocky sections. The fur on the Harlequin is composed of two or three colors, which can be Orange, White, and Black (Japanese) or White and Black (Magpie.)
It is believed that the Harlequin was bred from a Dutch tricolor and a common rabbit in France. The first exhibition including the Harlequin was in the Jardin D'Acclimation in 1887. Originally, the only colors were black, orange, and white.
The Japanese (Harlequin) was first imported into the USA in 1919. The Harlequin did not gain much populartiy, though, despite its intriguing coloration. In the 1940s, the British Rabbit Council renamed the Japanese was renamed the Harlequin, because the name "Japanese" made people dislike it (what with WWII and all...)
Harlequins are generally docile rabbits who have a disposition to like everybody. They are well-behaved when being handled, too.