CLASS MAMMALIA. 69 



near Romford, in November, 1865 (Field, Nov. 25th, 1865, 

 P- 377)- 



In the Supplement to Daniel's Rural Sports (London, 

 1813, 4to, p. 480), there is an account of a Hare being run 

 down by a single dog, a cross between a Hound and a 

 Spaniel and that a nearly blind one at Great Baddow 

 in December, 1808. The chase was for a wager. The same 

 author gives (vol. i., p. 548) the details of a very long 

 course near Felstead, in February, 1789. Both occurrences 

 are of some interest, as showing the amount of sport afforded 

 by this creature. 



Lepus cuniculus, Linn. RABBIT. 



This destructive creature is very common in all parts of 

 Essex, and little need be said about it. 



Its food, habits, and appearance are sufficiently well- 

 known to all dwellers in the country. 



It may not, however, be so well-known, that occasionally 

 specimens occuc, which in colour are quite black, or white, 

 and this, I believe, without any admixture of tame 

 blood. 



Mr. Reginald W. Christy gives (Essex Nat., vol. ii., p. 33) 

 a description of several black Rabbits that he observed at 

 Roxwell. Mr. E. A. Fitch describes (ibid., vol. iii., p. 25) a 

 litter of albinos found at Hazeleigh. In neither instance 

 does there seem any reason to suspect a cross with a domesti- 

 cated parent. 



There are, in the large warrens of the counties of Norfolk 

 and Suffolk, any number of silver-grey rabbits. I do not 

 hear of any of this variety in Essex, unless the black ones 

 mentioned by Mr. R. W. Christy, may be sports in this 

 direction, for the young silver-grey animal is generally black 

 in its first coat. 



