376 On the Northern Hare* 



confined in the same warren, and might therefore have been less 

 prolific than if they had enjoyed their liberty undisturbed, amid 

 the recesses of their native woods. We have frequently observed 

 the young of the northern hare in May, and again in July. 

 These last must have been either from a second litter, or the 

 produce of a young female of the previous year. The young at 

 birth were able to see. They were covered with short hair ; and 

 appeared somewhat darker in colour than the adults, at that 

 season. They left their nest in ten or twelve days, and from 

 that time seemed to provide for themselves, and to derive little 

 sustenance or protection from their mothers. The old males at 

 this period seemed to be animated with renewed courage ; they 

 had previously sufi:ered themselves to be chased and worried by 

 the common English rabbit, and even retreated from the attacks 

 of the gray rabbit ; but they now stood their ground, and enga- 

 ged in fierce combats with the other prisoners confined with 

 them, and generally came off" victorious. They stamped with 

 their feet, used their teeth and claws to a fearful purpose, and in 

 the fight, tore off" patches of skin, and mutilated the ears of their 

 former persecutors, till they were left in undisturbed possession 

 of the premises ! 



The males did not evince the vicious propensity to destroy 

 their young, which is observed in the domesticated English rab- 

 bit; on the contrary, they would frequently sit beside their little 

 family, when they were but a day or two old, seeming to enjoy 

 their playfulness, and to watch their progress to maturity. 



The northern hare seems during summer to prefer dry and 

 elevated situations, and to be more fond of grounds covered with 

 pines and firs than of those that are overgrown with oak or hick- 

 ory. The swamps and marshes soil their feet, and after having 

 been compelled to pass through them, they are for hours employed 

 in rubbing and drying their paws. In winter, however, when 

 such places are hardened by the frost, they not only have paths 

 throuorh them in every direction, but occasionally seek a fallen 

 tree top as a hiding or resting place, in the centre of a swamp. 

 We have observed them in great numbers in an almost impene- 

 trable thicket of black larch, or hackmatack, [Larix pendula,) 

 considerable portions of which were during summer a perfect 

 morass. In what are called the " bark clearings," places where 

 hemlock trees have been cut down to procure tan bark, this 

 species is sometimes so abundant that twenty or thirty of them 

 may be started in a day's walk. 



