284 RODENTIA. 



but some are dyed black. The New Zealand skins are 

 shipped from Port Otago or Dunedin, and the 

 Tasmanian from Hobart Town, the latter being the 

 only skins imported with the head and ears. 



The Silver-grey Eabbit was also introduced into 

 Australia, but the fur in some districts has become 

 lighter than the English variety. The skins of these 

 are used exclusively for fur. 



Fawn-coloured wild Eabbits are occasionally met with 

 in England. Many black animals are found, and a.re 

 especially numerous in Gloucestershire, and parts of 

 Surrey. In Lincolnshire many warrens of the Silver-grey 

 variety, called Silvers, are found, and they are surrounded 

 with brick walls to prevent intermixture with the ordinary 

 grey. There is an extensive one at Normanby, near 

 Brigg, Lincolnshire, formerly belonging to Sir E. Shef- 

 field, and now owned by Colonel Ingles. This variety is 

 grey, or black, more or less beautifully furnished with 

 longer white hairs ; the under fur is blue. This colour 

 is called " Silvers," when the top white hairs are 

 abundant ; " Sprints," when there are a few vestiges of 

 white hairs ; and " Blacks," when these are altogether 

 absent. An extremely rare very light-grey variety, 

 called "Doves," is sometimes found in these warrens. 



The skins of the Silver-grey Eabbit were at one time 

 in great demand for China and Eussia, the price then 

 realized being very remunerative, but now they are 

 almost unsaleable in these markets. 



In France, and also in England, there is a very 

 peculiar variety called " Jardiniere ; " this is half black, 

 half deep grey, the peculiar distribution of colour being 

 quite unique. 



Silver-grey Eabbits, probably tame, of large size, and 

 of a beautiful light colour, are produced in the centre of 



