ARCTIC HARE 



Darker in summer pelage than other American Arctic 

 Hares. Winter pelage white, ears black-tipped. Color of 

 back (summer), dusky brown, finely grizzled with gray, 

 grayer on sides, blackish brown on top of head, dark 

 cinnamon or buffy about nose and mouth; orbital ring white; 

 ears dusky, washed with gray, tipped with blackish ; under- 

 parts white. Found in "Tundras of northern and north- 

 western Alaska, exclusive of the Peninsula and Bristol Bay 

 section. Vertical range from sea level up to over 2,000 

 feet altitude; zonal range, Arctic." (Nelson) 

 Alaska Peninsula Hare. — Lepus poadromus Merriam. 



Characterized by dull cinnamon coloration (summer), small, 

 dusky gray tail, white hind feet. Winter pelage white, with 

 black-tipped ears. Total length, 24 inches; tail vertebra3, 

 2.1 inches; hind foot, 6 inches; ear from notch, 3.2 inches. 

 Found in "Peninsula of Alaska and Bristol Bay district of 

 Alaska. Vertical range from sea level up to an undetermined 

 altitude; zonal range, Arctic." (Nelson) 



vSubgenus Boreolepus 



Greenland Hare. — Lepus grcenlandicus Rhoads. 



Larger than typical arcticus. Total length, 26.5 inches; 

 tail vertebras, 3 inches; hind foot, 4.8 inches; ear from notch, 

 3 inches. Color above (summer), dusky whitish, a fine 

 sprinkling of black hairs on back and sides of head; ears 

 dusky gray, with small black tip; below, pure white; the 

 summer pelage is essentially white, the winter pelage pure 

 white except for small, black tip on ears. Claws very 

 large; long and projecting upper incisors; pelage exceedingly 

 thick. Found in "Northwestern coasts of northern Green- 

 land and Ellesmere Land. Vertical range from sea level to 

 an undetermined altitude; zonal range, Arctic." (Nelson) 



The large, heavy-bodied, Arctic Hares live so far north that 

 they are seldom seen except by the trapper or sportsman who 

 goes far afield. They are the largest American members of 

 the family Leporidas, some of the species reaching a weight of 

 1 1 pounds. These Hares are a principal food item for Foxes, 

 Weasels, Lynxes, and Great Snowy Owls. The change in 

 pelage is an aid in escaping enemies, since the summer coat 

 blends well with the scrub vegetation and open ground, while 

 the pure white winter coat matches the snow so well that the 

 outline of the animal is lost. 



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