HARES AND RABBITS. 225 



this white on the tail is supposed to be (as in the case of the 

 Rabbit) to aid the young in following their dam to a place of 

 safety ; but it is clearly a disadvantage to the animal when 

 hunted by greyhounds, which follow only by sight, and in this 

 have a conspicuous object to attract their eyes towards their 

 quarry. The Hare, as Mr. Trevor-Battye has pointed out, 

 does not, however, invariably carry its tail up, as the Rabbit 

 does ; and when cantering generally carries it down. When 

 coursed, the Hare, as is well known, seeks to elude her 

 pursuers by frequent doublings, being able to turn in a much 

 smaller space than the dogs ; and it is mainly for this reason 

 that two greyhounds are invariably employed, as a single dog 

 would have but a very poor chance. 



Hare-skins are largely used in the manufacture of felt, the 

 fur, before removal from the skin, being treated with acid, 

 when it assumes a reddish colour, and felts more readily ; this 

 process being technically known as " carroting." 



II. THE MOUNTAIN-HARE. LEPUS TIMIDUS. 



Lepus timidus, Linn., Syst. Nat. ed. 12, vol. i. p. 77 (1766); 



Sclater, Cat. Mamm. Indian Mus. pt. ii. p. 118 (1891). 

 Lepus variability Pallas, Nov. Spec. Glir. p. i (1778); Bell, 



British Quadrupeds, 2nd ed. p. 338 (1874). 

 Lepus arcticus, et L.glacialis, Leach in Ross' Voyage, pp. 151, 



170 (1819). 



Lepus albus, Jenyns, British Vert. Animals, p. 35 (1835). _ 

 Lepus hibernicus, Yarrell, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1833, p. 38; Bell, 



British Quadrupeds, p. 341 (1837). 

 Lepus borealtS) et L. canescens, Nilsson, Skandinav. Fauna, pp. 



19, 22 (1847). 



(Plate XXVIII.} 



Characters Size smaller than in the last ; the head relatively 

 smaller and more rounded ; and the ears, hind-limbs, and tail 



5 Q 



