226 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



shorter. General colour fulvous grey, with black tips to the 

 ears, changing during the winter in the colder regions of the 

 animal's habitat to white, with the exception of the tips of 

 the ears, which are black at all times. Length of head and 

 body about 21 inches; of tail, 2^ inches; of ear, 3^ inches. 



The reasons for applying the name of Lepus timidus to this 

 form, instead of to the Common Hare, have been already 

 given under the heading of the latter. 



Distribution. The geographical distribution of the Mountain, 

 Alpine, Blue, Irish, or Polar, Hare, as the animal is variously 

 called, is very extensive, embracing the circum-polar regions of 

 both Hemispheres, and including a considerable portion of 

 Europe and Asia north of the Himalaya. This is the only Hare 

 found in Iceland and Scandinavia, and it ranges over Northern 

 Europe generally, while it extends eastwards as far as Japan, 

 and in Southern and Eastern Europe it is found in mountain- 

 ranges, like the Alps, the Pyrenees, and the Caucasus, which 

 have a climate and temperature suitable to its existence. Al- 

 though unknown in England, the Mountain-Hare is spread over 

 the whole of Ireland and the greater part of Scotland. In the 

 latter country its range has of late years been steadily increas- 

 ing, partly owing to artificial introduction, and partly to a west- 

 ward immigration; it is, however, now unknown in the Orkneys, 

 where it is stated to have formerly existed. According to Bell, 

 it was introduced into Peebleshire, Lanarkshire, and Ayrshire; 

 but in Argyllshire its increase of area is stated to be natural. 

 Thus it appears that, while it was unknown in Inverary about 

 1839, forty years later it was common there; and much the same 

 is reported of the Loch Lomond district. In Mull it has 

 been introduced. In Sutherland, from incessant shooting, the 

 number of these Hares has been greatly reduced ; but of late 

 years they are once more increasing in numbers. 



In Ireland, doubtless owing to the mild climate, the Moun- 



