Lepus. mammalia. FERA. 21 



Merr. Pin. p. 168 Sibb. Scot. p. 11 — Ray, Quad. 214 — lAnn. Syst. 



i. 86 Penn. Brit. Zool. i. I07. B, Gwiwair; G, Feorag. In old 



wooded districts. 

 This lively active animal fi'equents extensive woods, where it resides on 

 the trees, feeding on buds, twigs, and fruits. It lays up a stock of provision 

 for the winter, securing it in the cleft of an old tree. It forms its nest of 

 moss or dried leaves in a similar situation, in which it brings forth from four 

 to five young. These are easily tamed, but prove destructive to furniture. 

 They sit erect, covering the body with the tail, and using the fore-legs as 

 hands. Destructive to young plantations. Have disappeared from some 

 parts of Argyleshire, where they Avere formerly abundant ; Statist. Account, 

 i. p. 487. 



II. Summits of the grinders fiat ^ with the enamel appearing 

 partially on the surface. Herhivorous. 



Gen. XIX. LEPUS. Hare. — Subsidiary incisors in the 

 upper jaw. The prismatic grinders are six in the upper, 

 and five in the lower jaw on each side. Inside of the 

 cheeks hairy. Five fingers and four toes. Furnished with 

 a tail. Ears large. 



30. L timidus. Common Hare, — Ears longer than the 

 head, and black towards the tips. Tail black above, white be- 

 neath. Weight from 6 to 12 Jb, 



Merr. Pin. 168 — Sibb. Scott, p. 11 Ray, Quad. p. 204 Penn. Brit. 



Zool. i. p. 98. S, Maukin or Cuttie ; TV, Ysgyfarnog, Ceinach ; G, 

 Maigheach — In cultivated districts. Not in the Northern Isles. 

 The hare has its form on the ground. It breeds several times in a season, 

 pairing in February ; goes with young thirty days, and produces from one to 

 five at a litter. The young have their eyes and ears perfect, the body co- 

 vered with fur, and the limbs fit for locomotion. Destructive to gardens and 

 young plantations. Flesh highly valued for soup, though of a dark colour. 

 Fur valuable. In Scotland the skins are collected by itinerant dealers, and 

 annuallv sold in the February market at Dumfiies, sometimes to the amount 

 of 30,000. 



A black hare was killed lately at Netley, Shropshire, by my respected friend, 

 the Reverend F. W. Hope. 



31. L. cunniculus. Rabbit.— Ears shorter than the head, dark 

 coloured towards the tips. Tail above nearly of the same co- 

 lour as the back. AV eight from 3 to 5 lb. 



Merr. Pin. p. 168 — Sibb. Scot. lU. p. 11 Ray, Syn. Quad. p. 205 



Penn. Brit. Zool. i. p. 104. E, Coney; S, Kinnen; B, Cwningen. 

 The rabbit is common on the British continent and islands, but would soon 

 be extirpated unless protected in warrens. It breeds six or seven times in 

 the year, and brings forth five to eight at a litter. The eyes and ears, at 

 birth, are imperfect, the skin is destitute of hair, and the lim-bs unfit for loco- 

 motion. Easily domesticated, and in many situations might be reared to ad- 

 vantage. Its flesh is white and delicate, and its fur valuable — Three varie- 

 ties occur. The first is the common Grey Rabbit, widely dispersed. The se- 

 cond is the Black Rabbit, found in several warrens, but nowhere numerous. 

 The third is the Silky Rabbit, probably brought originally from Angora. They 

 occur in the May, and a few other islands. They do not associate with the 



