1869. } MR. F. H. WELCH ON LEPUS AMERICANUS. 235 
of the face. Although the examples quoted demonstrate how indi- 
vidual peculiarities, apart from age, sex, or habitation, may modity 
a general law, there can be no doubt that the change is esseutially 
dependent on the season, and is hastened or retarded by its severity or 
otherwise. On the seaboard it is postponed in comparison with inland 
districts in the same latitudes. Sir J. Richardson remarked the early 
change of L. americanus in the Hudson’s Bay Territory, as well as the 
carrying of its winter coat until June. He also especially mentions 
“the absence of change of dress in the winter time in the southern 
parts of the United States’’*. 1am informed that one kept in con- 
finement at St. John’s, N. B., in a warm barn, retained the summer 
colours. Respecting the popular idea of the white-fur coinciding 
with the first tall of snow, careful observation does not corroborate it. 
The change is essentially gradual, and spread over some seven weeks ; 
but the rapidity with which the new white growth, when it first ren- 
ders itself apparent externally, involves the entire surface of the back 
may somewhat explain the popular belief on the subject, although 
at least seven days must be taken up in this part of the process. 
The winter’s coat is generally carried in New Brunswick until the 
middle of May, when it is gradually shed, so that in June the animal 
may be said to have assumed its summer fur. Thus five months 
may be regarded as the period during which in this province L. 
americanus is clothed in white—from December to April; two 
mouths are occupied by the autumnal change, and one by the vernal. 
We have seen how in the Arctic regions the duration of the winter 
coat is extended, and its absence in southern latitudes. Considering 
the increased duration of the winter coat over the summer one in 
proportion to the seasons, as well as its importance to the animal in 
assimilating it to the natural features of the country for the greater 
part of the year, and as a protection against cold and its numerous 
enemies, it would be rational to regard the winter fur as the ordinary 
coat of this Hare in New Brunswick and northern climes, and the 
summer change its modification; the opposite would hold good in more 
southern latitudes, in sequence to the relative length of the seasons. 
The dimensions of this Rodent, as met with in New Brunswick, 
are as follows :— 
in 
Length-from nose to end of tail ...........-.... 
from ear to end of hind leg stretched 
DU CEE Ae Re oe ea 
———ofhead ....... x 75 
Fore leg, from middle toe to ulna extremity . 
—, from wrist-joint to middle claw . 
Hind leg, from middle claw to hip-artieulation 
-—— foot, from middle toe to calcis ... SEAR 
+ breadth posteriorly ...........-..., 
—— —, breadth anteriorly .. 
=. JDw. aan expanded . . 
jo 
BH SAWN AWW: 
Vo) 
eccooscococcon+? 
HlooH loo 
real weight, 3 |b. 
* Appendix to Parry’s Arctic Expedition. L. americanus. 
