201 



VARYING HARE. 



Lepus Variabilis. L. caitda attrrtriata, excepto auricuhrum ca- 

 pite breciontm apice nigro hyeme totus aJbus. Lin. Syst. Nat. 

 Gmel.p. 161. 



Tawny-grey short-tailed Hare (white in winter), with ears 

 shorter than the head, and tipped with black. 



Varying Hare. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 100. 



Lepus variabilis. Pall. Glir. p. I. 



THIS species is an inhabitant of the loftiest al- 

 pine tracts in the northern regions of the globe ; 

 occurring in Norway, Lapland, Russia, Siberia, and 

 Kamtschatka ; and in our own island on the Alps of 

 Scotland. The same species is also found to extend 

 to America, appearing in some parts of Canada. 

 In its general appearance it bears an extreme re- 

 semblance to the common hare, but is of smaller * 

 size, and has shorter ears and more slender legs. 

 Its colour in summer is a tawny grey, in winter 

 entirely white ; except the tips of the ears, which 

 are black : the soles of the feet are also black, 

 but are very thickly covered with a yellowish fur. 

 This animal is observed to confine itself altop-e- 



O 



ther to elevated situations, and never to descend 

 into the plains, or to mix with the common haret- 

 The change of colour commences in the month 



* Dr. Pallas, on the contrary, represents it as larger than the 

 common hare : it, therefore, appears to vary in size in different 

 countries j and the Scottish variety is smaller than the Russian and 

 Siberian. 



f Yet, according to Dr. Pallas, a Hybrid variety is sometimes 

 eridently produced between this species and the common hare. 



