102 FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



of hind legs, IOtV; of head, 3^ ; of ears, 8^3; of tail, 2^^ , 

 weight, 3 to 4lbs. 



" Ears shorter than the head. Forehead convex. Claws 

 sharp-pointed, and nearly straight. Upper anterior incisors 

 white, with a deep, longitudinal groover near their inner mar- 

 gin ; the small incisors behind short, oppressed to the anterior 

 incisors, and inserted into the upper maxillary. First molar 

 above simple, recurved ; the four succeeding larger, and of 

 nearly equal size, composed of double folds of enamel ; the last 

 simple, cylindrical, directed forward, and scarcely attaining the 

 length of its predecessors. Beneath, the incisors are smooth, in 

 front long and subquadrate. The first molar inclined backward, 

 grooved before, and with a double groove on the outer surface ; 

 the succeeding ones to the last upright, nearly equal, with a sin- 

 gle groove and two prominent ridges on their external surfaces ; 

 the last smallest, inclined forward, with a slight groove on the 

 external surface, and the tip exhibits a double case of enamel. 



" Color. — In summer the general color is yellowish-brown, 

 which becomes more or less rufous on the outer surface of the 

 extremities and on the breast. Margin of the eyes blackish- 

 brown, and outside of this a circle of yellowish-white. Throat 

 and under side of the tail white. Abdomen grayish -white. 

 Ears edged with white and tipped with brown. Fur plumbeous, 

 lead-colored at the base, and for much of its length. In winter 

 the fur becomes longer, and the upper surface of the head and 

 body lighter, occasionally iron-gray ; but I have never seen it as 

 white as is stated by Godman. There may, however, be white 

 varieties ; but it cannot be said to have two distinct coats of fur. 



" The most remarkable distinctions of this species, by which 

 it is discernible alike from the Rabbit and the common Hare of 

 America, are as follows : — 1st. His size, which is much inferior 

 to that of the common or variable Hare, and little superior to that 

 of the common wild Rabbit of Europe ; whence he is frequently 

 confounded with the Rabbit. 2d. The proportion of his legs ; 

 the hind legs being longer, the fore legs shorter than those of 

 the larger Hares. 3d. The color and length of the ears, which 



