SECRETARY'S REPORT. 187 



Family: LEPORiDiE. — (Hare Family.) 

 Characteristics. — Head long and compressed; ears long and erect; 

 eyes large and prominent ; incisors, four in the upper, and two in the 

 lower jaw, the two middle ones of the upper jaw much the largest ; 

 molars twelve or ten in the upper, and ten in the lower jaw ; hind limbs, 

 long, adapted to leaping ; anterior feet, five-toed ; posterior feet, four- 

 toed ; tail short or wanting. Animals in this family are timid, always 

 seeking safety in rapid flight. 



Genus: Lepus. — (Linn.) 

 Characteristics. — " Molars, twelve in the upper, and ten in the lower 

 jaw ; ears large, nearly as long, or longer than the head ; tail short and 

 bushy ; hind-legs powerful, and much longer than the fore-legs." This 

 formula is given by Baird, in his admirable report on the mammals. 

 But two species represent this genus in this State, the L. Americanus, 

 and the L. sylvaticus ; their habits are similar, though the former seems 

 to show a preference to the higher lands, and the latter, the swamps ; 

 but they are both found in the same places. 



Lepus Americanus, (Erxleben.) — Northern Hare, White Rabbit. 



This common species is often met with in this State. Its habits are 

 well known, and require but little mention here. It seems to prefer the 

 extensive woods to the pastures and swamps, and very seldom ventures 

 into the fields. On being hunted by dogs, it doubles on its tracks often, 

 and winding through thick clusters of entangled undergrowth, very often 

 throws its pursuers off its track ; it does not take refuge in holes in the 

 earth, as does the common rabbit, on being hard pressed, but depends 

 entirely on its strength and the thickness of the woods ; it is often 

 caught in snares, baited with an apple, and in box-traps. Its flesh is 

 excellent and a great favorite ; its fur is pretty good, but is not used by 

 furriers to any extent. In the daytime the hare does not move around 

 much, but remains concealed beneath a clump of bushes or in a bunch 

 of brush; this is called {inform. It has numerous enemies, and were it 

 not prolific it would soon be exterminated. The young are usually five, 

 or six in number, and two litters are born in a year. The nest is com- 

 posed of dried grass and leaves, lined with the fur pulled from the body 

 of the old one ; it is built usually beneath a clump of bushes, and when 

 the old one leaves it she covers the young carefully with leaves and 

 grass. The young leave the parent when quite small, being much 

 more able to take care of themselves than the common rabbit of the 

 same age. 



Description. — Head, rather short ; ears, long — about the length of the 

 head — they are placed far back ; body, long ; legs, long, the posterior 



