THE ALPINE OR WHITE HARE. 155 



some high hill or craggy ravine. If not pressed, it springs 

 along as if for amusement ; but takes care never to give its 

 enemy an advantage by loitering. 



I put up one, on the 16th of March 1840, when inspect- 

 ing the heather-burning on my moor, at Leny in Perth- 

 shire, which' (contrary to their usual practice) kept watch- 

 ing, and allowed me several times to come within a 

 hundred yards. I was at first surprised, bat the explanation 

 soon occurred to me that it had young ones in the heather. 

 I had thus a good opportunity of noticing the commence- 

 ment of its change of colour. The head was quite grey, and 

 the back nearly so; which parts are the last to lose, as well 

 as the first to put on, the summer dress. I shot one nearly 

 in the same stage, on the 22d of November 1839.* The only 

 difference was, that the whole coat of the former appeared 

 less pure. This is easily accounted for, as in winter the 

 creature, though receiving a fresh accession of hair, loses 

 none of the old, which also becomes white ; whereas in 

 spring it casts it all, like other animals. Thus, by a 

 merciful provision, its winter covering is doubly thick ; 



* I twice shot fine specimens of the alpine and common hare on 

 the same day. The difference between them, when thus closely 

 compared, was very perceptible. The head of the alpine was much 

 rounder, which was rendered more obvious by the shortness of its 

 ears. The scut was also ludicrously small ; while the roundness of the 

 body was increased by the soft and very thick coat of fur, which made 

 that of the common hare appear hard and wiry. One of the alpine hares 

 was shot on the 17th of September ; there was not the least appearance of 

 the change of colour. The other, shot on the 6th of October, had a few 

 silver hairs about the toes. On the llth I shot another which had the 

 feet and half the hind-legs white, and was a little silvered behind the ears. 



