340 lewis's AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



surface of body, and inner surface of legs, light grayish- wliite ; tail, 

 upper surface grayish brown, beneath white ; breast light yellowish- 

 gray ; behind the ears a broad patch of fawn-color ; outer surface 

 of fore-legs and thighs yellowish brown. 



"winter color. 



" Very similar to the above ; in a few specimens the hairs are 

 whitest at the tips ; in others black tips prevail. This hare never 

 becomes white in any part of our country, and so far as our re- 

 searches have extended we have scarcely found any variety in its 

 color. 



"dimensions. 



ADULT MALE. INCHES. UNE8. 



"Length of head and body 15 



" head 3 5 



" ears 3 



" tail (vertebrae) 1 2 



" tail, including fur 2 2 



From heel to end of middle claw 3 7 



Weight 2 lbs. 7 oz." — Audubon. 



LOCALITY. 



The gray rabbit is met with as far north as New Hampshire, 

 and abounds in the Middle, Southern, and Western States. 



GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS. 



The timid and interesting little creature now under considera- 

 tion, we may say, is universally known as the rabbit ; this appella- 

 tion, however, notwithstanding its general use, is a very unjust one, 

 as will be learned from the following remarks on this head. 



Those naturalists who hav^e studied the habits and characteristics 

 of the genus lepus of America do not hesitate for a moment in 

 placing all the varieties yet met with in their proper rank of hare. 

 And, moreover, we shall, without doubt, surprise some of our 

 readers when we tell them that we have no rabbit — that is, true 

 rabbit — indigenous to this country. 



The hare and rabbit so closely resemble each other in many 



