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ANIMALS OP NORTH AMERICA. 



buds of trees. The flesh is esteemed by the Indians the 

 greatest luxury. In confinement it will eat bread and vege- 

 tables from the hand, come when called, and exhibit fondness 

 for its owner. 



THE HARE (Lepus) next engrosses our attention. 



Description. Upper incisors placed in pairs ; head large ; 

 ears long ; eyes large, projecting laterally ; hind feet long ; 

 bottoms of feet, hairy ; tail, very short and elevated. Never 

 burrowing like the European rabbit. 



THE AMERICAN RABBIT (Lepus nanus or Sylvaticus) 

 though, strictly speaking, a hare, is the most common of the 

 species throughout the continent. Fleming says, that the 

 American hare and European rabbit so nearly resemble each 

 other, that it puzzles zoologists to assign distinguishing marks. 

 The only points in which they differ are as follows : The nest 

 of the hare is open, while that of the rabbit is closed, and 

 lined with its own fur. The young of the hare are brisk, 

 have eyes and ears perfect, their legs in a condition for run- 

 ning, and their bodies covered with fur at birth. The young 

 of the rabbit have their eyes and ears closed, are unable to 

 travel, and are naked. It has been said that the American 

 rabbit forms burrows, but this is decidedly a mistake, probably 

 arising from its occasionally taking refuge when hard-pressed 

 in the holes of foxes or wood-chucks. 



THE VARYING HARE {Lepus Americanus) sometimes called 

 the Northern hare, is found all through the mountainous 

 regions of the West, and is not dissimilar to the Alpine hare 

 of Europe. In the winter season it becomes perfectly white ; 

 it is less prolific than the preceding, hence its greater scarce- 

 ness. Warden says this hare differs from the Alpine, by 

 changing from gray-brown to white ; its ears are shorter ; its 

 legs more slender. According to Godman, scarcely sufficient 

 distinction exists to warrant the idea of its being other than 

 the Alpine ; and in this the writer agrees, pronouncing it only 

 a variety. In summer the hares feed on grass, juicy herbs, 



