PET RABBITS, CAVIES, AND MICE. 35 



remove the lightness of the fur which will sometimes 

 come very much lighter at chest to the detriment of the 

 specimen. This has had the appearance of giving the 

 chest a dead or leaden appearance, and I am happy to 

 say that such have been passed by the judges without 

 a card. The Silver Grey cannot be made, it must be 

 bred, and having a few years ago won many prizes, I 

 think I am entitled to say that winners can be bred. My 

 old Champion " P.B.," whose shadow graces these 

 pages, won no fewer than 84 first and special prizes, a 

 record which I do not think has been beaten by any 

 rabbit." We desire to interrupt Mr. Brazier just for a 

 moment to say that from Champion " P.B.," on the 

 male side, we laid the foundation of our own stock, and 

 had until recently in our possession " Storm King," who 

 lived to be one of the oldest Silver Greys of our day 

 bred in direct male line (a grandson) of the old 

 champion. So that Silver Greys are long-lived as well as 

 beautiful, and in-breeding does not always destroy stam- 

 ina. Mr. Brazier adds: "Some letters have recently 

 appeared in the Press * Have Silver Greys improved?' 

 How I wish I could again place upon the table some of 

 those which have passed away, and compare notes. 

 The Silver Greys of the old days were bred, not made, 

 thus encouraging all breeders to strive to breed speci- 

 mens of equal and superior merit to those of long ago. 

 On one occasion I bred 6 in one litter, all of which turned 

 out to be first prize winners in open competition, and 

 three of which I sold for 21. So that they are profit- 

 able as well as fascinating. In breeding Silver Greys 

 patience is required, and it is not well always to dispose 

 of young Greys in a hurry, as very often they are not 

 at their best until the second or third coat has grown. 

 If you have a comparatively even young Silver Grey, 

 always keep it if you have the hutch room, until the 

 second moult at least. I have known such to turn out 

 champions. In starting a strain of Silver Greys the 

 great thing is selection. Do not rush and buy the first 

 winner you see, just because it has won at a show, or 

 someone (perhaps an interested party) tries to persuade 

 you. Buy your stock from a well-known and genuine 

 fancier who breeds his winners, and pay as good a price 

 as your means will permit. Obtain all the facts from 

 him as to parentage, and then set to work. Let the doe 



