104 FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



der, moderately grooved ; the small posterior incisors not as 

 large as in the preceding species ; lower incisors wedge-shaped, 

 nearly straight. Molars more compressed and broader than in 

 the preceding species. Skull depressed between the orbits. 

 Body covered with loose, shaggy hair. Feet thickly covered 

 with hair above and beneath, concealing the long, thin, and 

 slightly curved claws. Whiskers long and numerous, black, 

 or black and white ; a tuft of three or four over the eyes, and 

 some beneath the chin. 



" Independently of the change by season of this Hare, it may 

 be said that at no time, unless in high northern latitudes, can two 

 individuals be found marked precisely alike. At all seasons 

 the base of the fur is lead colored above, and white beneath. 



" Winter Dress. — White, or nearly so, with irregular spots 

 and dashes of a bright fawn color, which is more apparent on 

 the ears, forelegs and rump ; ears margined with blackish -brown 

 above, being deeper toward the tips ; tail, and all beneath, 

 white. 



" Summer Dress. — Above, bright fawn or reddish -brown ; 

 forehead, cheeks and ears of the same color ; all beneath, 

 white ; edges of the ears white, bordered with darker, particu- 

 larly toward the tip. At all seasons the hair on the soles is 

 dirty white. Margin of the eyelids, dark brown ; pupil dark 

 brown. Iris yellowish. 



" It is a distinct variety, differing in many respects from the 

 cominon Hare, Lepns Timidas^ the Varying Hare, Lepus Varia- 

 bilis, and the Alpine Hare, Lepus Glacialis, of Europe. 



" It is found from Canada as far north as Hudson's Bay. 

 southerly to the northern parts of Pennsylvania, perhaps even 

 of Virginia ; but in the Middle States is only found in moun- 

 tainous and roughly wooded districts. 



" Its period of gestation is about six weeks ; it bears from 

 four to six young at a litter. 



" The flesh of this and the preceding species is insipid, dry, 

 and savorless, depending entirely on the condiments and cooking 

 for its moderate goodness." — Dekay''s Nat. Hist. 



