CHAPTER XXV. THE SILVER-GREY 



RABBIT. 



BREEDING IN WARRENS. 



THIS species has attracted considerable attention of late as 

 a medium of rabbit raising which promises both sport 

 and profit. That it is possible to substitute the silver-grey for 

 the wild rabbit is certain ; for not only has it been tried, but 

 the results have been eminently successful. The breed known 

 to fanciers as the silver-grey, and to warreners and game- 

 keepers as a blue rabbit, is a variety of the common species. 

 At its birth it is invariably wholly black, but after six 

 months, it has generally attained the colour which originates 

 its name. The fur is remarkable for its beauty and also for 

 certain peculiarities, as it is composed of three lengths of 

 different hues ; the outermost, or longest hairs, should, we 

 believe, in a correct specimen be white with black tips, 

 but it is very often entirely of one or the other colour, 

 producing a consequent variation in the actual shade which 

 the fur appears to be to the eye. The second, or middle, 

 length of hair is of slate-colour, and is visible on the surface 

 of the animal's coat; furthermore, it varies so little in shade 



