THE AMERICAN HARE. 387 



points that it is not at all astonishing that they should often be 

 confounded one with the other ; in fact, nothing but the discrimi- 

 nating eyes of science could have pointed out the dividing-line 

 between these two nearly-allied species. 



The principal and most striking difference in the habits of these 

 two species is the circumstance of one living in communities and 

 burrowing in the ground, while the other lives singly or in 

 pairs, and makes its nest upon the open surface ; this peculiarity 

 of the American hare is almost sufficient of itself to prove the en- 

 tire identity of the species with that of the English hare, (Lepus 

 cuniculus.) 



We have, however, still stronger grounds than this for placing 

 our rabbit, as it is termed, in the same rank with that of the Euro- 

 pean hare. 



The American hare, as the English, breeds about three times in 

 the course of a year ; in the South they may possibly, owing to 

 the effects of climate, bring forth more frequently. Their nest is 

 of the rudest character, and constructed with little or no care for 

 any thing like warmth or comfort ; it is generally found upon the 

 open ground, in an old field, perhaps protected somewhat from the 

 weather and easy observation by the overhanging leaves of a 

 shrub or other small plant. 



The rabbit, on the contrary, has several litters in the course of 

 the year, and selects with some degree of care the choicest part of 

 its burrow for the deposit of its young ; the nest is made of the 

 softest materials within the reach of the anxious mother, and she 

 even plucks the downy fleece from her own body to furnish a soft 

 and warm bed for the reception of her tender offspring. 



The young of the Lepus sylvaticus, at birth, are covered with 

 hair ; their eyes wide open and ready for immediate use ; their ears 

 fully developed and eager for action ; their bodies supple and theh 

 limbs pliant, even so much so that they possess sufficient strength 

 to run almost at the moment of birth. 



The young of the rabbit, on the contrary, are deposited in the 

 dark recesses of the burrow, entirely destitute of any protection in 



