CHAPTER XXV. 



AMERICAN HARE. OR GRAY RABBIT. ^EPUS SYLVATICUS. 



DESCRIPTION, HABITS, GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS, ETC. 



"summer dress. 



' UR on the back yellowish brown ; soft fur, 

 from the roots to the surface plumbeous ; 

 the long hairs which extend beyond th". 

 fur, and give the general color to the ani- 

 mal, are for three-fourths of their length 

 lead-colored, then yellowish, and are tipped 

 with black ; ears dark brown on the outer 

 surface, destitute of the distinct black bor- 

 der seen in the Northern hare, and not tipped with black like those 

 of the Polar and variable hare; whiskers nearly all black; iris 

 light brownish-yellow ; a circle of fawn-color around the eye, more 



conspicuous nearest the forehead ; cheeks grayish ; chin, under 



889 



