90 HABITS AND ECONOMY. 



kinds of forest indiscriminately, from the 

 oaks of the lower hills to the stunted bushes 

 near the limits of vegetation. If we may 

 judge from their numbers, the preference 

 seems to be given to the birch forests, where 

 the underwood consists chiefly of the white 

 rhododendron and juniper. 



In many respects they are not unlike hares 

 in habits and economy. Each individual 

 selects some particular spot for its favourite 

 retreat, about which it remains still and at 

 rest throughout the day, leaving it in the 

 evening to search for food, or to wander 

 about, returning soon after daylight. They 

 will occasionally rest for the day in any 

 place where they may happen to be in the 

 morning, but in general they return to near 

 the same spot almost every day, making- 

 forms in different quarters of their retreat 

 a little distance from each other, and visiting 

 them in turn. Sometimes they will lie 

 under the same tree or bush for weeks 

 together. They make forms in the same 

 manner as hares, levelUng with their feet a 



