xvi NATURAL HISTORY. 



nor does it seek to shelter itself from the inclemency of the weather by burrowing in 

 the snow, but is found generally sitting solitary under the lee of a large stone, where 

 the snow-drift as it passes along seems in some measure to afford a protection from the 

 bitterness of the blast that impels it, by collecting around and half burying the animal 

 beneath it. 



It is accordingly provided with a remarkably fine, thick, woolly fur, admirably 

 calculated to withstand the most intense cold. 



In summer it is found chiefly at the foot and sides of gentle acclivities, where 

 amongst the large loose stones it finds some secure retreat to bring forth its young. A 

 female killed by one of our party at Sheriff Harbour, on the 7th of June, had four 

 young in titero, perfectly mature, oj inches long, and of a dark gray colour. In one 

 shot by us at Igloolik, on the 2d of June, six young were found, not quite so far 

 advanced ; and Fabricius, who states that he has himself seen eiglit young in utero, 

 says it brings forth many young towards the end of June. One taken by us on the 

 28th of June a few days after its birth, soon became sufficiently tame to eat from our 

 hands, and was allowed to run loose about the cabin. During the summer, we fed it 

 on such plants as the country produced, and stored up a quantity of grass and astragali 

 tor its winter consumption ; but it preferred to share with us whatever our table could 

 afford, and would enjoy pease soup, plum pudding, bread, barley soup, sugar, rice, and 

 even cheese, with us. It could not endure to be caressed, but was exceedingly fond of 

 company, and woidd sit for hours listening to a conversation, which was no sooner 

 ended than he would retire to his cabin : he was a continual source of amuseuient by 

 his sagacity and playfulness, until in tlie middle of winter, when playing some of his 

 pranks, he struck his head against one of the beams, and was ever after subject to fits. 

 He lived and thrived nevertheless throughout the winter, and died in the following 

 summer after fifteen months' confinement. 



Although constantly in a temperature never much below the freezing point, its fur 

 assumed its white colour as early as those that were running wild, and exposed to the 

 climate; and although it cast its winter coat early in May, it was replaced by a pure 

 white fur; from which, it is probable that the old males are not subject to the same 

 change as the females in summer. Fabricius says, that "the Greenland Hare is white 

 Ijoth in summer and winter." Amongst tlie inhabitants of Greenland, one Esquimaux 

 woman was found who spun some of the beautiful white wool of the Hare into a 

 thread, and knitted several pairs of gloves ; one pair of which, notwithstanding the 

 native filthniess of the Esquimaux, came into my possession beautifully white. It very 

 much resembles the Angola wool, but is still more soft. 



