THE MOUNTAIN OR BLUE HARE 319 



Six killed at random by A. G. Cameron in North Argyll {Field, 

 9th January, 1904, 50) weighed: — two, 16th December 1891, 15; a 

 female, 1st November 1892, 8; one, 17th November 1892, 8 5 ; one, 

 22nd November 1897, 7 8 ; one, 7 4 ; average 7 11 . Millais considers that 

 7 would be a good average weight, and 8 to 8 4 not unusual ; the three 

 largest selected from a lot of two hundred at Dunalastair, Perth, on 

 30th October 1897, scaled 7 12 , 8 3 (female), and 8 s (female). 



Distinguishing characters : — From L. curopmis this hare may be 

 distinguished at a glance at all seasons by its shorter ears. From 

 O. cuniculus, which has also short ears, its small white tail and greater 

 size, as shown especially in the hind feet, are distinctive ; even in quite 

 small leverets the tail is much shorter than a hind foot. 



The cranial characters have been already given in such detail as 

 to need no repetition (see above, p. 293-4). 



The Scottish Blue Hare closely resembles the Brown in 

 general habits, so that it will be here only necessary to notice 

 the differences. This similarity has, no doubt, led to neglect 

 of the former by naturalists, and, so far as can be ascertained, 

 no comprehensive account of its life-history has yet been 

 written. 1 



All observers agree that in temperament it is a bolder (or, 

 perhaps, more foolish and irresolute), as well as a more 

 inquisitive animal ; and in winter, should the snow melt, its 

 whitish dress and lively habits make it very conspicuous. It 

 often sits in full view, back to the wind, sheltered by an over- 

 hanging rock, or at the entrance of a hole or cleft amongst 

 boulders or stones. 2 When startled it will run for a few yards, 

 stop and sit upright to gaze wonderingly at the intruder ; 

 and then off it bounds again. But it soon halts, looks around 

 for a few moments, and finally " hirples " 3 away at leisure ; 

 which procedure suggests that in the past it has been accustomed 

 to look for danger in the air, where it had enemies in the 

 eagles, rather than on the ground. 



In speed and agility it is rated inferior to the Brown Hare, 

 and on its native moors can be run down by a smart collie 



1 See, however, "Fur and Feather Series," The Hare, by several authors, 1896. 

 J. G. Millais's account of it is also to be praised. There are some notes on habits in 

 Charles St John's Tour in Sutherlandshire, ed. ii., 1884, i., III. Robert Collett's 

 exhaustive description of the very similar Skandinavian Hare is in Norwegian. 



2 Millais, hi., 34 ; T. A. Coward, Zoologist, 1 901, 74. 3 George Sim, 70. 



