56 NATURE STUDY. 



(pure white in the far north), with ears tipped with 

 black. The "gray rabbit" can often be obtained at 

 the markets in winter; it is largely used for food. 

 Common in the west is the "Jack Rabbit." 



Home. Occurs in most or all sections of the United 

 States. Does not burrow, but only makes a slight de- 

 pression in the ground, usually under a tuft of grass or 

 fern or a low bush or a pile of brushwood, in which the 

 hare lies so flatly pressed to the earth and so closely 

 resembling in color the soil and dried herbage that 

 it can hardly be distinguished from them. To this 

 simple home, or " form " as it is called, the hare seems 

 much attached. 



Home life. Touch only on points different from rab- 

 bits. More solitary, not social in habits. Said to be 

 more courageous. Sagacity in escaping from hounds 

 and from its many other enemies. When hunted, often 

 stands perfectly still or squats behind a clump of sod, 

 being almost indistinguishable from its surroundings. 

 Often destructive to trees and other vegetation. The 

 article by Cowper, referred to under Helpful Litera- 

 ture, tells much about the life and habits of hares 

 which had been domesticated. 



STEP 4. Summary of whole lesson and expressive 

 work. 



Dwell in this final oral summary on the home and 

 home life of the tame rabbit, and of the hare or Ameri- 

 can ^ wild rabbit ; " these are nearer to the children, 

 and it is more important that they should know and 

 remember about them. The study of the true wild 



