Game Animals of India, etc. 



the under-parts white. This hare occurs typically in 

 that part of Tibet lying immediately north of Nepal 

 and Sikhim, whence skins were obtained and named by 

 Brian Hodgson ; but in all probability it also extends 

 farther towards the east, and specimens have been 

 obtained from high valleys to the south of the great 

 snowy range in the Sikhim district. 



The Ladak, or upland hare (L. hypsibius)^ is probably 

 nothing more than a local race of the last, from which 

 it is stated to differ by its somewhat superior size and 

 shorter ears. The tail is pure white throughout, and 

 the blue-grey tint of the hind-quarters stands out in 

 striking contrast to the brown of the rest of the back. 



This hare is definitely known from the higher valleys 

 of Ladak, such as Chang-chenmo, as well as from the 

 plateau ot Rupshu, where it is met with at elevations 

 between 14,000 and 15,000 feet, or even more, above 

 the sea. I have, however, shot hares in plantations a 

 few miles higher up the Indus valley than the town of 

 Leh, at considerably lower elevations, which I am inclined 

 to believe belonged to the present form. A hare from 

 North Tibet and Kansu, identified by Dr. E. Biichner, 

 of St. Petersburg, with L. oiosto/us, htis been regarded 

 by Dr. Blanford as probably representing either a variety 

 of L. hypsibius or an undescribed species. 



In the small patches of Eleagnus jungle growing 

 along the water -courses in the neighbourhood of 

 Chang-chenmo blue hares, as they are commonly called, 

 are extraordinarily abundant, and sufficient to supply 

 the traveller's camp with food for a week or more may 

 often be shot in the course of a few minutes. In my 

 own opinion their flesh is decidedly superior to that of 

 the hares of the plains of India, although this favour- 

 able verdict may be partly owing to the keen appetite 

 developed by camp-life in Ladak. Anyway, blue-hare 

 soup is excellent. 



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