136 ' ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES. 



They beat a circular path in the snow where the hares 

 abound, over which these simple animals will not readily 

 jump ; snares are then set in all the hedge-gaps, after 

 -which the Indians beat about with their dogs to drive the 

 hares into the nooses. The supper of a whole horde 

 will often depend upon the success of this operation ; 

 since, with the usual improvidence of a hunter's life, 

 these Indians seldom keep any store of provisions. The 

 average weight of the American hare is only four pounds. 



The Polar Hare. 



Lepus glacialisj Leach. Rich. North. Zool. i. 221. Varying 

 Hare, Pennant. Rekaleek, Greenlanders. 



The beauty of this species, which appears to preserve 

 the delicate w^hiteness of its fur during the greater part 

 of the year, renders it a desirable acquisition to the 

 parks or preserves in the northern islands of Scotland : 

 in size, also, it is superior to the alpine or varying 

 hare of that country, and its flesh is white and well 

 flavoured. * Its habits are well suited also to districts 

 which are destitute of wood ; since it seems to avoid 

 such situations, and to seek the sides of hills, where 

 the wind prevents the snow from accumulating, and 

 where, even in winter, it can procure berries and leaves 

 of evergreens. It does not dig burrows, but shelters 

 itself among large stones, or in the hollows of rocks. 

 Although not a very shy animal, it eludes, with un- 

 common vigilance, the deadly aim of the hunter. Dr. 

 Richardson gives us a singular instance of this, in the 

 following anecdote: — '' In the late boat voyage along 

 the northern coast of America, we landed on a rocky 

 islet off Cape Parry, which, although not above three 

 hundred yards in diameter, was tenanted by a solitary 

 alpine hare. The whole party went in pursuit of this 

 poor animal ; but it availed itself so skilfully of the 

 shelter of the rocks, and retreated with so much cun- 

 ning activity from stone to stone, that none of us could 

 * North. Zool. 



