UPLAND SHOOTING. 101 



cisive of species and genera, can be of the weight ascribed to 

 them ; and will persist, even after they are informed to the con- 

 trary, in supporting their own opinion against the definitions of 

 science ; which is, in fact, not one whit less ridiculous than it 

 were for any one to dispute with the philosopher the earth's 

 roundness, or the sun's volume, because his eyes cannot discern 

 all that is taught by science. 



The European Hare, it is well known, is more than double 

 the size and weight of the American variety ; weighing, when 

 full grown, from six to eight pounds ; and measuring two feet in 

 length — while the American congener is not above eighteen 

 inches long, at the utmost, and does not weigh above two 

 pounds. It is natural enough, therefore, that the European 

 sportsman should be inclined to doubt the fact, associating his 

 ideas of the animal with the large kind which he has hunted or 

 shot at home, when he is told that the little grayish creature, 

 which so very closely resembles the Rabbit of his country in 

 size, is not a Rabbit but a Hare. 



In many points, moreover, connected with his haunts, habits 

 and history, the small Hare of America resembles the Rabbit of 

 the eastern continent ; although in others more marked, and, in- 

 indeed, positive!}" decisive of his species, the two animals differ 

 entirely. 



The points of similarity lie in this, that the smaller American 

 Hare, like the Rabbit of Europe, loves craggy and inaccessible 

 wooded hill-sides ; and, when hard pressed by dogs, will betake 

 itself to holes and clefts in the rock ; and that he has the same 

 skulking habit, and much the same motion. 



The great difference is, that he never dwells in vast congrega- 

 tions, or warrens, and never burrows in the earth for his habi- 

 tual dwelling-place. This point, with some others, of structure 

 and breeding, is decisive against his being a Rabbit. 



" The American Hare — Lepus Americanus — vulg. TTie Rabbit. 

 " Length, from nose to tip of hind claws, 16 inches ; length 



