236 TEN YEARS IN SWEDEN. 



(and is even found on the Isle of Huen, in the Sound) . It 

 is hardly yet determined how far north it goes. I have 

 killed them in South Wermland, and they are said to be 

 sometimes killed near Stockholm, but certainly never so far 

 up as Norrland. 



59. L. BOKEALIS, Nilss. Fjall Hare, Nord Hare. The 



Alpine Hare. F. 



Ears only on the tips for about 3 lines, broad black ; 

 fur in the bottom white or whitish ; colour in summer 

 above and on the sides grey, in the winter pure white ; 

 ears when laid back reach nearly an inch in front of the 

 tip of the nose. Bather smaller than the last. Length 

 about 1 ft. 10 in ; tail without hair 2-i in. 

 Is very rarely met with further south than Wermland, 

 but is common from thence far up into Lapland, where it 

 frequents both the forests and the bare fells. 



That this is identical with the Alpine hare of the north 

 of Britain, and a distinct species from the common European 

 hare (L. Timidus) is I believe allowed by all ; and also that 

 the Irish hare (L. Hibernicus } Yarr.) is nothing more than a 

 variety in colour of this, is also most probable. But I am 

 almost inclined to agree with Blasius, who says that both 

 the Swedish hares and the Irish hare are nothing more than 

 forms, or varieties in colour of one species, L. variabilis, 

 Pall : 



(1). L. hibernicus, Yarr.; L.canescens, 'Nilss. A form met 

 with in the warmer climes in Ireland and the south 

 of Sweden ; colour both in summer and winter grey- 

 brown. 



(2). L. variabilis, Pall.; L. Alpinus, Penn.; L. borealisj 

 Nilss. Summer grey-brown, in winter white with 

 black ear tips. Found on the Pyrenees, the Alps, in 

 Scotland, Scandinavia, Finland, North Kussia, and 

 Siberia. 



(3). L. glacialis, Leach. In both summer and winter 

 white with black ear tips. Found in the high north 

 of Europe, Asia, and Greenland. 



