480 THE VARYING HARE. 



The female goes with young about a month ; she 

 generally produces three or four at a litter, and this 

 about four times in the year. The eyes of the 

 young onss are open at their birth. The dam 

 suckles them about twenty days, after which they 

 leave her and procure their own food. They make 

 forms at a Uttle distance from each other, and never 

 go far from the place where they were brought 

 forth. The Hare lives about eight years. 



THE VARYING HARE *. 



This species has a very soft fur ; which in sum- 

 mer is grey^ with a slight mixture of tawny : the 

 tail is alwavs \A'hite. The cars are shorter, and the 

 legs more slender, than those of the Common Hare; 

 and the feet more closely and warmly furred. In 

 size, this animal is always somewhat smaller. 



Besides other cold parts of Europe, the Varying 

 Hare is found on the tops of the highest Scots hills^ 

 never descending to the plains. It will not n:ix with 

 the last described species, though common in the 

 same neitxld^ourhood. It does not run fast; and 

 when alarmed, takes shelter in clefts of the rocks. 



In September it begins to change its grey coat, 

 and resume its white w'inter's dress ; in which only 

 the tips and edges of the ears, and t!ie soles of the 

 feet, are black. In the month of April it again be- 

 comes grey. It is somewhat singular, that although 



* Synonyms. — Lc]nis A'nrialiiiis. Jji/iu. — AI];inc Hare. Fur, ci 

 Pciui. Sj/ii. — \'aryin3; Iliiic Pcu/i. 2uad. 



