THE SILVER GREY RABBIT 103 



"In shape they should be plump, high on the hind 

 quarters, loin well filled, neck low, head rather large and 

 keeping in good proportion with the body, broad to the 

 front and on no account tapering or snipey, and the dew- 

 lap of the doe cannot be too large, broad, or too much to 

 the front, nothing in my opinion looking so comfortable 

 as a well-developed specimen at repose, with its head well 

 cushioned on a good large dewlap. 



" Some judges, I know, object to this point, but why I 

 could never ascertain, for, to say the least, a rabbit with a 

 large dewlap has more fur than one without it, besides 

 the elegant appearance it gives the animal. 



" The eye, should be large, dark and protruding, and 

 bold in appearance ; ears small rather than large, neat 

 and well pricked ; legs and feet, though neat and compact, 

 strong in bone and perfectly shaped. 



" Although there are many handsome specimens in their 

 natural warrens, yet when first introduced into this country 

 most were very dark in colour, though very even through- 

 out ; but with great care and good selection in breeding, 

 even with the help of warmth, which they require to bring 

 them to perfection, have produced some of the most 

 beautiful and perfect of their kind, which have taken the 

 lead at many of our exhibitions. 



" As at present bred, there are two kinds, or shades, of 

 colour, viz., the dark or heavily ticked, and the light or 

 thinly ticked ones ; the latter being preferred by some 

 judges, while to my taste the former are the more 

 perfect, these being much more difficult to produce than; 

 the light ones. 



