100 FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



their ground color dull grayish-yellow, with numerous spots of 

 light purple and reddish-brown. They are placed in the nest in 

 the same manner as those of the Spotted Sandpiper ; that is, 

 with the smaller ends together ; which is also the case with those 

 of the Telltale Godwit, Wilson's Plover, and the Kildeer Plo- 

 ver. " — Audubon'' s Birds of America. 



From these seven species, constituting the Upland Game 

 Birds, proper, of the United States — for reasons which have 

 been stated above, I prefer to consider the Wild Turkey under 

 the head of Western Sporting — I come to the two varieties of 

 Hare — Pseudo Rabbit, and White Rabbit ; the true genera and 

 distinctive marks of which are subjoined. 



THE AMERICAN HARE. 

 Lepus Americamis. Lepus Virginianus. 



I have already mentioned, that there is no variety of Rabbit 

 found on this continent ; although, from the smaller size, the 

 lighter and grayer color of its fur, and its general resemblance 

 to the wild Rabbit of Europe, the smaller species — Lepus Ame- 

 ricamis — which is found in almost every part of the United 

 States and Canada, is invariably termed, and very generally be- 

 lieved to be a Rabbit. 



This misnomer is not, like the calling Grouse " Pheasant, and 

 Partridge," a mere error in nomenclature, used by persons who 

 are well aware of the distinction, and sometimes adopt the 

 false instead of the true name, as it were compulsorily, and in 

 order to make themselves understood by the ignorant — as I have 

 found myself obliged to term Woodcock Blind Snipe, in conver- 

 sation with country people — ^but is an absolute mistake, which 

 is held by many sportsmen, who will not be convinced of the 

 contrary. 



Sportsmen are, indeed, but too apt to undervalue, and even 

 ridicule, the minute distinctions of the naturalist ; not understand- 

 ing how so small differences as are in some questions alone de- 



