[ 484 ] 

 THE ALPINE HARE*. 



The Alpine Hare is about nine inches in length. 

 It has a long head and whiskers ; and above each 

 eye there are two very long hairs. The ears are short 

 and rounded. The fur is dusky at the roots, of a 

 bright bay at the ends, slightly tipped with white, 

 and intermixed with long dusky hairs : at first sight, 

 however, the animals seem of a bright, unmixed 

 bay colour. 



Their most southern residence is on the Altaic 

 chain of mountains near lake Baikal, in Siberia; and 

 they extend from thence as far northward as to 

 Kamtschatka. — They are always found in the middle 

 regions of the snowy mountains, where these are 

 clad with woods, and where' herbs and moisture 

 abound. They sometimes burrow between the rocks, 

 but more frequently lodge in the crevices. They 

 are generally found in pairs ; but in bad weather they 

 collect together, lie on the rocks, and whistle so 

 much liketlie chirp pf Sparrows, as easily to deceive 

 the hearer. On the report of a gun they run off into 

 their holes; whence, however, if notlung more ig 

 heard, they soon return. 



By the usual wonderful instinct of similar animals, 

 they make a provisioji against the rigorous season ir^ 

 their inclement seats. A company of them, towards 

 autumn, collect together vast heaps of favourite 

 licrbs and grasses, nicely dried ; which they place 



* Sykonyms. — Lepns Alpinus. Liun. — Mountain Hare. Kern 

 ^hav's Gen, ZojLjl. i(jJ. 



