196 FAUNA AMERICANA. 



in size, they might be supposed, from other parity 

 of their description, to be the same species. (Sab.) 

 Inhabit the Arctic Circle, Greenland, the south- 

 ern coast of Barrow's straits, and the north Geor- 

 gian islands, where they are very abundant. They 

 feed in ravines, near the bottom of steep clifts by 

 the sea-side, which they ascend with great agility 

 on being alarmed, and secure themselves amongst 

 the loose stones near the top of the clifts. None 

 were seen during the winter, but it does not seem 

 probable that they had deserted the island. 



Note. — Perhaps may be referred to this spe- 

 cies also, the Greenland hare, or Rekalek, which 

 remains entirely white, even in summer, with 

 black at the end of the ears; the young being 

 whitish-gray ; the female bringing forth eight 

 young at a time. The food of this animal consists 

 principally of the tender herbs, which grow along 

 the brooks on the slopes of the Greenland Moun- 

 tains. 



Species. 



3. Lepus virgi7iiatius, (Nobis) Varying hare, 

 Warden's Descrip. of the United States, vol. v. 

 p. 632, in a note. 



Char. Essent. Grayish-brown in summer, white 

 in winter ; the orbits of the eyes surrounded by a 

 reddish-fawn colour at all times ; ears and head 

 of nearly equal length ; tail very short. 



