96 THE ALPINE OR WHITE HARE. 



colour, is a true criterion of the severity or mildness of 

 the season. If the winter is open, I have always re- 

 marked that the back and lower part of the ears, retain 

 a shade of the fawn-colour ; if, on the contrary, there is 

 much frost and snow, the whole fur of the hare is very 

 bright and silvery, with scarcely a tint of brown. When 

 started from its form, I have constantly observed that it 

 never returns, evidently knowing that its refuge has been 

 discovered. It will sometimes burrow in the snow, in 

 order to scrape for food, and avoid the cold wind, as well 

 as for security. These burrows are not easily discovered 

 by an unaccustomed eye; the hare runs round the 

 place several times, which completely puzzles an ob- 

 server, and then makes a bound over, without leaving 

 any footmark to detect her retreat. It is hollowed out, 

 like a mine, by the hare's scraping and breath, and the 

 herbage beneath nibbled bare. 



The alpine hare is a good deal less than the common 

 shorter, and" stouter made for its size its legs 

 stronger, for climbing in rocky places, and its claws 

 more blunt. Its colour, in summer, is a kind of light 

 fawn, and in winter the tips of the ears, which are 

 much shorter than those of the common species, are jet 

 black. 



