146 



FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS 



is darker in winter than in snmmer, and is always a 

 deeper brown than the Wood Hare's, and its tail is a 

 mere scrap lined with gray." 



" Why do they have shorter ears and legs than the 

 Wood Hare, and no fur under their feet ? " asked Nat. 



" iNIammals, like birds, are all adapted to the places 

 in which they live. A Hare living in open woods and 

 fields must liave long legs to give him speed to run to 

 cover and long ears to catch the least sound of danger. 

 The openings of their ears are sidewise, though they 

 can move them forward and back when they are listen- 

 ing. The sense of smell and hearing in the gnawing 

 fourfoots seems to be chiefly used to tell them where 

 their enemies are ; Avhile the ears and noses of the flesh 



Marsh Hare. 



