Vair

In heraldry, tinctures are either of metal, color strictly so called, or fur. The furs were originally but two,—ermine and vair. Vair is said to have been taken from the fur of a squirrel, bluish-gray on the back, and white on the belly, is expre ed by blue and white shields, or bells in horizontal rows, the bases of the white resting on the bases of the blue. If the vair is of any other colors than white and blue, they must be specified. Various modifications of these furs were afterwards introduced, among others: counter-vair , or vair with the bells of one tincture placed base to base, and potent counter-potent , vair with crutch-shaped figures instead of bells.