343 



LEPUS SYLVATICUS, (Bachman) (Allen). 



THE WOOD HARE, GRAY RABBIT, COTTON TAIL. 



Specific Character. — Hind leg from heel, longer than the head by the length 

 of the claws. Ears about two-thirds of the length of the head. Fur full and 

 moderately soft. Pads of the feet full. Back light yellowish brown, banded and 

 lined with black ; this colour extending along tlie anterior edge of thighs. Side 

 much grayer ; across the rump clear ash, gray and black. Nape, fore-legs, and 

 outside of hind legs yellowish rusty, anterior face of the latter whitish, throat 

 yellowish gray. Lower parts pure white. Tail above, like the back, beneath 

 pure cottony white. Ears with the posterior edge whitish ; the edges of the 

 dorsal surface towards the tip black, the other portion except the external 

 band, ashy brown. Concavity of ear whitish. Fur everywhere at the base 

 lead colour, except under the tail. Among the largest of the short-eared rab- 

 bits of North America. Ears considerably shorter than the head ; measured 

 from the base of the cartilage, of equal length. 



Habitat. — Ur«ited States generally, and the southern counties of Ontario. 

 Average >S'i-^e.— Equal to that of a small cat. 

 Average Weight. — 8 pounds. 

 Average Height. — 6 inches. 



Average Length. — 13| inches; nose to tail, 12 inches; tail, 1| inch. 

 Value of Fur. — Valueless. 



This representative of the Leporidge is exceedingly common throughout the 

 southern part of Ontario and is generally called a rabbit, on account of its resem- 

 blance to the English rabbit. It is not, however, like it anatomically nor in its 

 habits, in the latter of which there is a wide difference. Hares do not live in bur- 

 rows as rabbits do, but lie in form in some bush or thicket ; a hollow stump or 

 log or under a log heap serving for a nest, although a common place is 

 ■a shallow hole dug in the ground in a hay or grain field. This is lined with 

 grasses, then with fur. and the young are there nursed until ready to shift for 

 themselves. When born they are covered with hair and have their eyes open. 

 Rabbits are born naked and have their eyes closed for a number of days. Hares 

 •only bring forth a litter of from three to live leverets in the months of May and 

 July, while rabbits bear from five to eight. 



The rabbit always burrows, and lives in its burrow during the night, feeding 

 by day. The hare, on the contrary, feeds principally after sunset and during the 

 night. This hare does not turn white in winter as does the Northern hare. 



It is a destructive little animal, very injurious to fruit trees on account of 

 its habit of eating bark. It is considered good eating and is generally shot by 

 the sportsman when other game is scarce. 



It is only within the last twenty or twenty-live years that it has been known 

 in Ontario, migrating from the United States, crossing the Niagara River possibly 

 some fine moonlight night over the Suspension Bridge. 



