THE COMMON HARE 1367 



The female produces several litters in the course of the year, the earliest of 

 which may arrive in January and the latest in November. The number of young 

 in a litter varies from two to five, and the "leverets" are suckled for about a 

 month, after which they are left to shift for themselves. 



The mountain or Alpine hare (Lepus timidus} is a species with a 

 6 very wide distribution, ranging over the greater part of Northern 

 Europe and Asia, from Ireland in the west to Japan in the east, and also met with 

 in the Alps, the Pyrenees, and the Caucasus. It is represented by a variety known 

 as the polar hare in Arctic America, which extends as far south as Nova Scotia. In 

 the British Isles this species is not met with except in Scotland and Ireland, and in 

 the former country is commonly termed the blue hare. Its present distribution is 

 doubtless to be accounted for by the glacial period, when it was able to exist in the 

 lowlands of the greater part of Europe; but it is somewhat curious that it should 

 find the wild climate of Ireland suitable to its existence. 



The mountain hare is intermediate in size between the common hare and the 

 rabbit; and has a relatively-smaller and more rounded head, with shorter ears, hind- 

 legs, and tail than the former. Throughout the year in Ireland and the south of 

 Sweden, and during summer in the greater part of the rest of its habitat, the gen- 

 eral color of the pelage is light fulvous gray; the tips of the ears being black. With 

 the commencement "of winter, however, except in the regions named, the fur gradu- 

 ally becomes more and more flaked with white, until at length it assumes a uni- 

 formly white hue, save on the black tips of the ears. It is believed, however, that 

 in the extreme north the fur is white throughout the year. 



In general habits the mountain hare appears to agree very closely with the 

 common species. Its "form" is generally made in the clefts of rocks, or between 

 stones; and during the winter its food consists largely of lichens and pine seeds. 

 In summer it ascends the higher mountains, produces from four to six young at a 

 birth, and it is doubtful if there is more than one litter in a year. It seems to be 

 more inclined to seek shelter under tree stems, thick evergreens, etc. , than the com- 

 mon hare; and the young are believed to be produced in sheltered cover. In Arctic 

 America the polar hare remains active throughout the winter, feeding chiefly on the 

 berries of the arbutus and the bark of dwarf willows. 



In addition to the polar hare, North America is the home of several 



species of the genus, two of which turn white in winter, although the 

 can Hare . 



bases of the hairs retain their normal color. The two species in ques- 

 tion are the prairie hare (L. campestris), distinguished by its large size, long ears, 

 and the white hue of both surfaces of the tail; a'nd the smaller varying hare {L. 

 americanus} , with shorter ears, and the tail dark above. 



Of the North-American species, which do not turn white in winter, the best 

 known is the small wood hare (L. sylvaticus), not unfrequently termed the gray 

 rabbit, the usual color of the upper parts being gray, varied with black, and more 

 or less tinged with yellowish brown, while the under parts are white. This hare is 

 a southern species, not ranging further north than the Adirondack region of New 

 York. In habits this species approximates somewhat to the rabbit, frequently 

 dwelling in hollow tree stems or the deserted burrows of other Mammals. Mr. 



