114 DOMESTIC RABBITS: Chap. IV. 



The Himalayans, when first born, are quite white, and are 

 then true albinoes ; but in the course of a few months they 

 gradually assume their dark ears, nose, feet, and tail. Occa- 

 sionally, however, as I am informed by Mr. W. A. Wooler 

 and the Eev. W. D. Fox, the young are born of a very pale 

 grey colour, and specimens of such fur were sent me by the 

 former gentleman. The grey tint, however, disappears as 

 the animal comes to maturity. So that with these Hima- 

 layans there is a tendency, strictly confined to early youth, 

 to revert to the colour of the adult silver-grey parent-stock. 

 Silver-greys and chinchillas, on the other hand, present a re- 

 markable contrast with the Himalayans in their colour whilst 

 quite young, for they are born perfectly black, but soon assume 

 their characteristic grey or silver tints. The same thing occurs 

 with grey horses, which, as long as they are foals, are generally 

 of a nearly black colour, but soon become grey, and get whiter 

 and whiter as they grow older. Hence the usual rule is that 

 Himalayans are born white and afterwards become in certain 

 parts of their bodies dark-coloured ; whilst silver-greys are 

 born black and afterwards become sprinkled with white. 

 Exceptions, however, and of a directly opposite nature, 

 occasionally occur in both cases. For young silver-greys 

 are sometimes born in warrens, as I hear from Mr. W. Birch, 

 of a cream-colour, but these young animals ultimately become 

 black. The Himalayans, on the other hand, sometimes produce, 

 as is stated by an experienced amateur, 18 a single black young 

 one in a litter ; and this, before two months elapse, becomes 

 perfectly white. 



To sum up the whole curious case : wild silver-greys may 

 be considered as black rabbits which become grey at an early 

 period of life. When they are crossed with common rabbits, 

 the offspring are said not to have blended colours, but to take 

 after either parent ; and in this respect they resemble black 

 and albino varieties of most quadrupeds, which often transmit 

 their colours in this same manner. When they are crossed 

 with chinchillas, that is, with a paler sub-variety, the young 

 are at first pure albinoes, but soon become dark-coloured in 



18 ' Phenomenon in Himalayan Rabbits,' in * Journal of Horticulture,' Jan. 

 27th, 1865, p. 102. 



