QUADRUPEDS. 27 



so well known to be used by the European animal. The Ameri- 

 can hare breeds several times during the year, and in the southern 

 states even during the winter months, having from two to four or 

 six at a litter. 



In summer dress the American hare is dark brown on the upper 

 part of its head, a lighter brown on the sides, and of an ash color 

 below. The ears are wide and edged with white, tipped with 

 brown, and very dark on their back parts ; their sides approach to 

 an ash color. The inside of the neck is slightly ferruginous ; the 

 belly and the tail are small, dark above, and white below, having 

 the inferior surface turned up. The hind legs are covered with 

 more white than dark hairs, and both fore and hind feet have sharp 

 pointed, narrow, and nearly straight nails. 



In winter tke fur is nearly twice the length of what it is in 

 summer, and is altogether, or very nearly, white. The weight of 

 the animal is about seven pounds. 



This species is about fourteen inches in length. The hind legs 

 are ten inches long, by wliich circumstance it is most strongly dis- 

 tinguished from the common rabbit of Europe. 



The use of coal tar, as described in reference to the rabbit, will 

 be found equally efficacious in preserving trees from the attacks of 

 this animal, and the painting of gate-posts and palings of a white 

 color at intervals, will, to a great degree, scare them from the 

 more valuable crops. Hares are to be destroyed by the gun, by 

 snares, traps, nets, &c. 



THE Fox. The Fox is a serious pest o the farm ; and though 

 of service in the destruction of other pests, yet his depredations far 

 exceed his usefulness in the destruction of rabbits, hares, mice, 

 moles, &c. 



There are several varieties of foxes. Those which are mainly 

 farm depredators are the Red Fox and the Gray Fox. 



The red fox is found throughout North America, and is the 

 species which frequently has been thought identical with the com- 

 mon fox of Europe, to which it bears a resemblance sufficiently 

 striking to mislead an incidental observer. But by the fineness of 

 its fur, its liveliness of color, length of limbs and slenderness of 

 bouy, as well as the form of its skull, it is obviously distinguished. 



Red foxes are yery numerous in the middle and southern states 

 of the Union, and are everywhere notorious depredators ori the 

 poultry-yards. Their haunts are most commonly in exceedingly 

 dense thickets, where they can scarcely be followed, even ly dogs. 



