THE BLUE OR MOUNTAIN HARE. 



Known also as the Snow- Hare, the White Hare, 

 the Varying Hare, &c. 



'TpHOUGH indigenous only to the Highlands 

 J- of Scotland, this distinct species has been 

 introduced to most parts of the Scottish Lowlands, 

 where it now flourishes exceedingly, also to Wales, 

 Northumberland, Yorkshire, Cheshire, and other 

 English counties. In Scotland generally it is on 

 the increase, and in some parts its progress is 

 marked by a proportionate decrease in the number 

 of brown hares probably a matter of cycle in 

 both cases. 



Both in character and in appearance the blue 

 hare is more nearly related to the wild rabbit than 

 is the brown. Whence came its name it is difficult 

 to ascertain, for it is not blue. The species is most 

 easily distinguished from the brown hare by its 

 ears, which are proportionately shorter and smaller, 

 while the black tips are less distinct ; the ears of 

 the blue hare are, indeed, very much like those of 

 the rabbit. Its limbs are shorter, more compact, 

 and designed less for speed. Its head is more 

 stubby and rounder, and its tail consists of a white 

 ball of wool, like that of the rabbit. It is consider- 

 ably smaller than its congener, and its coat is softer 

 in texture, more woolly, and shorter ; while the 

 species is without the strong, cat-like whiskers of 

 the brown hare. The undercoat is seal-blue, the 

 hair being tipped with rabbit-brown, and in parts 

 touched with the russet shades of the common 

 hare, so that when the coat becomes worn a dis- 

 tinct bluish cast predominates, rare individuals 



