624 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



replaced by the brown or summer coat; the changes are regular 

 as the moults of other fur-bearers, and are not influenced by the 

 weather. The order of change in autumn is feet, ears, sides 

 of nose, front of head, rump, flanks, crown, and last, the back. 

 The order is reversed in spring when the creature turns brown. 



The more vigorous individuals are first to change, those 

 that are very young or sickly being a week or two later, and 

 sometimes do not turn completely white. 



Dr. Allen makes also the following interesting remarks:* 



"Whether or not the soft under-fur is also shed in autumn 

 cannot readily be determined, but from its increased length 

 and abundance in winter, as compared with summer and early 

 autumn, it is evident that if not wholly renewed it at least is 

 greatly augmented. 



In the case of the spring moult, there is little doubt that 

 the whole pelage is renewed, the under-fur quite as com- 

 pletely as the overhair. 



In the case of wounds from fighting or other cause, re- 

 sulting in the violent removal of large bunches of fur, it is 

 interesting to note that in the autumn the new hair comes out 

 white, often weeks in advance of the general change, and that 

 in spring, under similar circumstances, the hair comes out 

 brown, like the summer coat, much in advance of the general 

 change to summer pelage." 



Numerous melanisms, that is black freaks, of this Hare, 

 are on record; I have seen 3 — i in Montreal, 2 in New Hamp- 

 shire. The reverse, a white freak or albinism, is less common. 

 One that I saw in Hine's shop at Winnipeg was shot near the 

 city in the autumn of 1886. It was everywhere pale buff, and 

 its eyes, as usual in these specimens, were bright pink. 



Life-history. 



RANGE The map (No. ^j) shows that all Manitoba falls within 



the range of the White-rabbit; it is absent only from the 

 prairie sections that are totally without cover. 



^ Ibid., pp. 1 20-1. 



