634 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



Soon afterwards it stretches its legs and hops away to seek its 

 favourite feeding-grounds, remaining more or less active until 

 dawn. It may run about the woods in early evening, but it is 

 very careful, when making a foray on the farmers' pea-fields 

 or gardens, to do it only under cover of darkness. 



MENTAL- "As much wit as a Rabbit" is an old expression of con- 



tempt among Red folk as well as White. The rodents are 

 not high in the order of intelligence, and the White-hare is 



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Fig. 175 — Tracks of the Snowshoe-rabbit 



low among rodents. Its keen senses, its wonderful speed, the 

 willow thickets, and finally its snowshoes, are the reasons it is 

 left alive to-day among countless enemies, for it is not equipped 

 in any degree for self-defense. Its soeed and fecundity are 

 indeed its holds on existence. 



CLEAN- The Snowshoe-rabbit dresses its coat much after the 



manner of the cat, and is in some respect a model of cleanliness. 

 But it does not hesitate to void its dung in the nest. This 

 violation of the sanctity of the home is a mortal sin, one for 

 which nature makes it pay dear in the end. This may be the 

 very breach by which the dreaded epidemics are enabled to 

 enter in and work such havoc on the race. 



TRACKS Fig. 175 sets forth the tracks very fully, except that it 



does not show the 8 and lo-foot bounds that the Hare can 

 make, or suggest the wonderful lightness of its tread on the 

 lightest of snow. 



