SCIENTIFIC SURVEY. ^^35 



out of condition, that it is proverbial among hunters, when visited by our 

 young city sportsmen, to enlarge upon the great and excellent qualities of 

 shaving soap made of ''rabbit's grease " and " cedar ashes." 



The meat of the hare is quite flavorless and light colored, and depends much 

 upon the condiments in dressing for its savory taste, — what epicures tliink to 

 the contrary notwithstanding. Still, it is not void of a good share of nutri- 

 tion, and makes a very simple diet for invalids. Indeed, I have not unfre- 

 quently been obliged to resort to this sort of food entirely, after getting short 

 of provisions, in many a hunting tour in the wilderness; and we can almost 

 always safely depend upon taking by trap, snare, or gun. a sufficient supply 

 of hare venison almost anywhere in our forests of Maine. 



The female hare is capable of bearing young before they are one year old, — 

 say thosf born in August and September multiply the following spring ; and 

 in this State, I am of opinion that they quite regularly have two litters each 

 season of from three to five each. 



They do not burrow as some of the genus do, but make a nest under a brush 

 heap or the thick loliage of a small tree, of leaves and soft moss. They go 

 with young about five weeks, and nurse them for three weeks, when they 

 gradually leave the original nest and mother and take care of themselves. I 

 have often picked them up in the woods, and when you find one you may be 

 almost sure the rest of the family are within ten rods of you. They are born 

 with a good dress of brown hair, and eyes open, and teeth well cut through ; 

 and what is quite peculiar to this animal by a curious formation of their 

 genitals are otten found to have a superlaetation. 



The food of our hare is chiefly browse of small and tender bushes, and they 

 especially love the buds of yellow birch. I have often baited up a score of 

 them in two nights by chopping down a bird) tree, and limbing it down, and 

 among the branches setting ray traps. 



Hunters depend almost entirely on the hare and muskrat for bait for their 

 traps to take larger game. 



1 have noticed that the higher up among the mountains I go the larger are 

 the hare, and I have no doubt that the atmosphere and even the soil have 

 great influence on the native animals. 



The noise of the hare when frightened or hurt is a high note, cut short at 

 very frequent intervals, and the voice kept up, and very shrill and very plain- 

 tive, sounding like filing; a mill saw. They also have a peculiar grunting 

 noise that is used when near each other, and m their families to make known 

 their wishes to each other. They also stamp with their feet like the domestic 

 sheep ; and often resemble, when jumping around the camp, the step of a 



heavy animal. t 1 j • 1 



I have often had them come into my open camp, when I had nicely 

 bivouacked for the night, and, in several instances, jump upon my body, 

 causino' a sudden fright and leap which sent "Master Fatty" (as he n 

 familiarly called,) away in a hurry. They are always attracted by a camp- 

 fire in the night, and we can always, of a clear night, shoot them by keeping 

 awake after all is quiet. 



I have seen the fisher follow and take the hare. One on a certain occasion 

 followed down the Richardson Lake about one mile, after they came on, when 

 the hare commenced to circle, and the fislier, who was but a short distance 

 behind, also continued the chase, but kept inside the circle of the hare, and 

 by so doing made quite a gain of the game, and in a very short time was able 

 to overcome the hare, of which he ate a portion, and dragged the remainder 

 on shore and buried it for future use. 



The Weasel, Puiorius pusillus, Aud. and Bach. 

 This little animal is very common, and doubtless well understood by observ- 

 ing people ; yet there may be simple facts about its habits worthy of a passing 

 notice. 



