RODENTIA. 139 



Little Rabbit.) L. Totai, the TOTAI, of Siberia ; L. Capensis, 

 of North and South Africa ; on the American Continent, L. na- 

 nus, (Lat. dwarf,) or Americanus, the American Gray Rabbit. 

 L. Americanus, the Northern Hare of America ; L. variabilis, 

 the Alpine Hare ; L. Hibernicus, the Irish Hare. Upwards of 

 thirty species are known, of which half belong to this continent, 

 all agreeing in having a short erected tail, and the hind larger 

 and more muscular than the fore limbs. 



The HARE, L, timidus, is as large as a fox, of a grayish brown 

 color, has long pointed ears, and is a native of Europe. The 

 fur of this animal is an important article in the hat manufacture, 

 and its excellent flesh often found in the market. This ani 

 mal is remarkable for its extreme vigilance. Its senses are most 

 acute and its fleetness, in proportion to its size, unrivaled. These 

 are its means of defence. The general length of the animal is 

 about two feet ; the color verges towards an iron gray, with the 

 chin and belly white. The eyes are placed laterally, and they 

 are said to be constantly open, even during sleep. The usual 

 and favorite residence of the Hare is in rich and rather dry and 

 flat grounds. It feeds principally by night and remains con 

 cealed during the day ; its food consists of herbage of various 

 kinds. Of parsley it is especially fond. Sometimes it does great 

 injury to wheat and other grains. So timid is it that it flees on 

 the slighest alarm if disturbed while feeding. Acting like tubes 

 applied to the ears of deaf persons, its long ears carry to it re- 

 mote sounds. In their flight, these animals are apt to exhaust 

 their powers at their first efforts, and hence are more easily taken 

 than the slower but more wily foxes. Its voice heard when in 

 distress or wounded, is like the sharp cry of an infant. In addi 

 tion to the persecutions of mankind, it is assailed instinctively by 

 every kind of dogs, and by the cat and weasel tribes: even birds 

 of prey, snakes, adders, etc., drive it from its summer lodging 

 place. This lessens the increase of these animals, which from 

 their prolific tendencies, would otherwise be greatly multiplied. 



The L. variabilis, sometimes called the SCOTCH HARE, is found 

 not only on the Alps, but on the mountains of Scotland. Its 

 tawny gray color in summer, is in winter changed to white, ex 

 cept the tips of the ears, which are black. In portions of Russia 

 there is a variety called the Russak, which in Siberia is always 

 white, but sometimes is entirely coal black. The winter dress 

 of the American Hare is white, or white tinged with brown ; the 

 summer dress is more reddish brown with white beneath ; the 

 ears are but little shorter than the head ; the length is twenty to 



