In 1919, a French farmer, Desire Carillon, had found a litter of wild common gray rabbits. He noticed something odd, though. He had found a kit with extremely short fur. This was the Rex mutation. Later, he had found another one of the opposite sex. This allowed for breeding.
King Albert of Belgium had quickly learned about this possibly new breed, and immediately bought a pair to breed. When he showed them, the judges did not want to disqualify them, because they were just too beautiful. Everybody loved their soft, plush, velvety fur. The parish priest, Father M. Amedee Gillet named this new breed "Castor Rex". Castor meaning beaver and Rex meaning King.
