Class I. ALPINE HARE. 



with Ptarmigans^ natives of the loftieft fituations : 

 does not run fall •, and if purfued is apt to take 

 fhelter beneath (lones or in clefts of rocks : is eafi- 

 ly tamed, and is very fprightly and full of frolick : 

 is fond of honey, and carraway comfit% and is 

 obferved to eat its own dung before a ftorm. 



It is lefs than the common hare, weighing only 

 6 \h.~. whereas the firft weighs from eight to twelve 

 pounds. Its hair is foft and full; the predomi- 

 nant color grey mixed with a little black and 

 tawny. This is its fummer's drefs. 



In winter it entirely changes to a fnowy white- 

 nefs except the edges and tips of the ears which 

 retain their blacknefs. The alteration of color be- 

 gins in September^ and firft appears about the neck 

 and rump. In ylpril it again refumes its grey coat. 

 This is the cafe in Styria *, but in the polar trads 

 fuch as Greenland it never varies from white, the 

 eternal color of the country. In the intermediate 

 climates between temperate and frigid, fuch as 

 Scotland and Scandinavia it regularly experiences 

 thefe viciflltudes of color. 



* Kramer Auflr, 315. 



103 



Cuniculirs 



