FAMILY LEPORID^. 95 



to the woods, but is frequently found in open fields, or where there is a slight copse or 

 under-brush. It does not burrow like its closely allied species the European Rabbit, but 

 makes its form, which is a slight depression in the ground, sheltered by some low shrub. It 

 frequently resorts to a stone wall, or a heap of stones, or a hollow tree, and sometimes to the 

 burrow of some other animal. Its habits are nocturnal ; and they may often be seen in the 

 morning, or early part of the afternoon, although in retired situations they have been seen at 

 all times of the day. Its flesh, though black and dry, is well flavored, although in this respect 

 it varies with the quality of its previous food. It breeds in this State, as I have been informed, 

 three times in the season, producing from four to six at a birth. It is the smallest of the 

 species found is this State, and so much resembles in its form the European Rabbit, that the 

 same popular name has been applied to it, although differing in color and some of its habits. 

 This, however, is of no consequence, for the name of American or Grey Rabbit is sufficiently 

 distinctive. 



It has not a wide geographical range. It is found from New-Hampshire to Florida, but its 

 western limits are not yet established. 



THE NORTHERN HARE. 



Lepus americanijs. 



PLATE XXVI. FIG. 2, WiNTEK DRESS. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 



liepus amtricanus. Erxleben, Syst. Reg. An. p. 330. 



i. virginianus. IIarlax, Fauna Americana, p. 196. 



L. variabilis, var. GoDMAN, Am. Nat. Hist. Vol. 2, p. 164. 



Ammcan Varying Hare. DoDGHTr, Cab. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1, p. 217, pi. 19, (autumnal dress.) Audubon, Orn. Biog. Vol. 2, 



p. 169, pi. 181, (winter dress.) 

 i. ammcarais. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 1, p. 217, (excl. syn.) 

 L. virginiarais. Bachman, Ac. Sc. Vol. 7, p. 301. 

 X. americanus. Id. ib. Vol. 8, p. 76. 



Prairie Hare. Emmons, Mass. Report, 1840, p. 58. 



Characteristics. Winter dress white, or white tinged with reddish brown. Summer, more 

 reddish brown ; beneath white. Ears scarcely shorter than the head. 

 Larger than the preceding. Length 20 - 25 inches. 



Description. Head "short; nose blunt. Eyes large and prominent. Ears broad and approxi- 

 mated, three and a half inches long. Upper anterior incisors long and slender, moderately 

 grooved ; the small posterior incisors not as large as in the preceding species ; lower incisors 

 wedge-shaped, nearly straight. Molars more compressed and broader than in the preceding. 

 Skull depressed between the orbits. Body covered with loose, shaggy hair. Hind legs nearly 

 or quite twice the length of the fore legs. Feet thickly covered with hair above and beneath, 

 concealing the long, thin and slightly curved claws. Whiskers long and numerous, black or 

 black and white ; a tuft of three or four over the eyes, and some beneath the chin. 



Color. Independently of the change by season, it may be said that at no time, unless in 



