AMERICAN HARE. 135 



ir^ heir burrows. While a party of them are thus oc- 

 cupied^ they leave a sentinel, who takes his station on 

 an eminence, and at the approach of danger utters a 

 shrill whistle,, which may be heard at a great distance : 

 the signal is repeated from one to another along the 

 whole line of their habitations, and thus timely security 

 is sought. They feed on roots and herbs, and do not 

 come abroad during winter. 



The American Hare. 



Lepus Americanus, Richardson, North. Zool. i. 217. Lepus 

 Hudsonius, Pallas. Lepus Americanus, Erxlehein. Ame- 

 rican Hare, Pennant. Rabbit, Hudson's Bay Residents. Le 

 Lapin, French Canadians. 



It is interesting to trace those shades of variation in 

 habits, by which Nature marks the distinction of one 

 species from another, even more than by external ap- 

 pearance. The American hare wtU illustrates this 

 truth. '^ It is," says Dr. Richardson, ^' so like the 

 common European rabbit, that it goes by that name 

 among aU the English residents at Hudson's Bay. It 

 seems a common animal in all the woody districts of 

 North America ; but in the barren grounds, and on the 

 plains of the Missouri, it is replaced by other and larger 

 species. 



The habits of the American hare, notwithstanding its 

 similitude to our rabbit, are very peculiar. It does not 

 burrow like that animal, but resides mostly in thickets, 

 or in woods having an underwood of w^illows and dwarf 

 birch. In summer it eats grass, and in winter the bark 

 of willows : it is likewise said to do much damage to the 

 cabbage and turnip fields. In the Hare- Indian country, 

 where, during winter, large animals are scarce, these 

 hares form the chief food of the natives. Unless dis- 

 turbed, it never runs about during the day, since its 

 enemies are numerous. In high northern latitudes it 

 becomes, during winter, of a pure white. 



The mode of hunting the hare pursued by the 

 Indians, is nothing more than destructive poaching. 

 K 4. 



