FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



Genus Lepus^ 



Dentition: Incisors, f ; Canines, 2 ; Premolars, f ;^Molars,f =28 



Varying Hare. — Lepus americanus 



and related forms 



Names. — Varying Hare; Snowshoe Hare; Snowshoe Rabbit. 



General Description. — A medium-sized Hare, with hind 

 legs not excessively elongated, ears large but not as large as in 

 the Jack Rabbits. Hind feet large; tail short; color brownish 

 in summer, white in winter. Plate XXXVI. 



Color. — Sexes colored alike. 



Summer. — Upperparts. — Grayish brown to buffy brown, 

 generally grayer on top of head; some blackish wash down 

 mid-line of back, and heaviest on rump ; ears like top of head 

 but darker at tip, posterior half of ears grayish, merging into 

 black at tip ; nape of neck duller than back, grayish or brown- 

 ish; sides grayer or paler than back, with less black; top of 

 forefeet like top of head; hind feet brownish along outside, 

 merging into buffy near white of underparts, and whitish 

 or buffy on upperside; tail, above, blackish, below, white. 

 Underparts. — White along abdomen and chin; 

 throat buffy to cinnamon. 



Fur slate-colored at base above and below. 



Young. — Less richly marked than adults, brown grizzled 

 with gray. 



"Winter. — Pelage everywhere clear white except for dusky- 

 tipped ears. 



Measurements. — Sexes indistinguishable in size. Total 

 length, 18-19 inches; tail vertebrae, 1.6 inches; hind foot, 5.3 

 inches; height of ear from notch, 2.5 inches. 



Geographical Distribution. — Northern half of North 

 America. 



Food. — Foliage, twigs, bark of many species of shrubs, 

 grasses, trees, and plants. 



Enemies. — Hawks, Owls, and carnivorous mammals such as 

 Weasel, Fox, Coyote, et cetera. 



I For a full review of the Rabbits and Hares of North America see 

 E. W. Nelson, North American Fauna, No. 29, 1909. 



478 



