228 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



ing. Instead, however, of making a regular " form," it skulks 

 among stones, or in the clefts of rocks, or hides among heather or 

 fern. In summer keeping to the mountain-sides, although not 

 frequenting the summits, it descends in winter to the bottom 

 of the valleys, although even then generally avoiding the culti- 

 vated or low flats. In Northern Europe it not unfrequently 

 resorts to woods. When hard pressed by hunger in winter, it 

 will not disdain to eat lichens, and even the seeds of pines. 

 In point of speed, the Mountain- Hare cannot compare with the 

 English species. Only two litters appear to be produced by 

 the female in a season. The flesh is whiter and leaner, and 

 therefore, of inferior quality to that of the Common Hare. 



Mr. Trevor-Battye writes : " This animal has a habit that I 

 have never seen explained. When running, it goes crookedly 

 at more or less frequent intervals, twisting its hinder extremity 

 in a curious way. I used to think it was only changing its legs, 

 but the action is too marked for this." 



In addition to an enormous number of carcases, with the 

 skins on, of the Mountain-Hare sent to this country for food, 

 from two to five million skins are annually collected, a large 

 proportion of which come from Siberia, According to Mr. 

 Poland, " a large quantity of these skins are used for fur-pur- 

 poses, both natural white, in imitation of White Fox, and dyed 

 Lynx-colour, brown, dark brown, black, and 'snow-flake.' The 

 peculiar dye called 'snow-flake' is effected by passing a solu- 

 tion of wax over the points of fur, and then dying the under- 

 fur a beautiful brown. The tips of the hairs thus retain their 

 natural white colour ; the wax covering is removed, the skins 

 are cleaned, and the fur hns then a beautiful appearance, some- 

 what like that of the Silver Fox." 



It is noteworthy that fossil remains of this species have been 

 obtained from a cavern in the Mendip Hills, as well as from 

 two Irish caves. 



