30 LEPORID^E. 



in many districts of both Provinces, and in those of 

 Rimouski, Gaspe, and Bonaventure, is the commonest 

 animal in the woods. 



I have seen a specimen of this hare presenting an 

 instance of a malformation of the front teeth, or incisors, 

 which is not uncommon, namely, a growth of several 

 inches in a circular direction. This, in the case of a single 

 tooth, is owing to the absence of the opposing incisor, the 

 constant friction of which, when in its proper place, keeps 

 down the growth intended by nature to supply the daily 

 wear to which the teeth are exposed. When, as is often 

 the case, both an upper and lower incisor are similarly 

 lengthened and distorted, it will be found to be owing to 

 a divergence of their points. 



It is not the case, as has been stated by some writers, 

 that these animals when pursued take refuge in a hole, or 

 in hollows under old roots ; on the contrary, they are not 

 easily run down, even by dogs trained for coursing. They 

 never burrow, and are generally to be found lying out 

 among the long tufts of grass, though in cold weather 

 they keep under the shelter of close bushes, or the 

 foliage of fallen trees. Their hours of feeding are 

 during the night, but a curious and wonderful instinct 

 teaches them to foretell the coming of storms hours 

 in advance, and to go forth at mid-day to procure the 

 subsistence which they may, a little later, be unable to 



