CLASS MAMMALIA. 69
near Romford, in November, 1865 (Field, Nov. 25 th, 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 occur, 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.