ALPINE HARE. 211 



Baikal, and even to Kamtschatka, inhabiting 

 rough, woody tracts amidst rocks and cataracts, 

 and forming burrows beneath the rocks, or inha- 

 biting the natural fissures, and dwelling some- 

 times singly, and sometimes two or three toge- 

 ther. They are also said to be occasionally found 

 in the hollows of large trees, which have been 

 thrown down by the violence of storms in those 

 lofty regions. In general they confine themselves 

 to their holes in bright weather, coining out only 

 in the evening and during the night ; but in dull 

 weather are frequently seen in the day-time, run- 

 ning about among the rocks, and frequently ut- 

 tering a sort of whistle or chirping sound, not 

 unlike that of a sparrow. In their manners they 

 greatly resemble some of the Marmots or Ham- 

 sters, preparing, during the autumn, a plentiful 

 assortment of the finest herbs and grasses, which 

 they collect in company, and after drying with 

 great care in the sun, dispose into heaps of very 

 considerable size, for their winter support, and 

 which may always be distinguished, even through 

 the deep snow, having the appearance of so many 

 hay-ricks in miniature, and being often several 

 feet in height and breadth. These little ricks, 

 raised by their industrious labours, are often 

 found of great service to the adventurous hunters 

 of Sables, whose horses would perish for want, 

 were it not for the supplies which they thus occa- 

 sionally discover. The Alpine Hare varies in 

 size according to the different regions in which it 



