44 CLASS-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY. 



Canada Porcupine is herbivorous, eats various wild fruit 

 in the summer, and the bark and buds in the winter ; it 

 does great mischief to the trunks of young trees. 



§ 150. The Guinea-pig (Cavia Cobaya) is as large as 

 a rat, reddish gray above, white below, but varies in color 

 when domesticated ; ears and tail very short, and a native 

 of South America. The Guinea-pig is the most prolific 

 of all the Mammalia, for it produces at each litter, every 

 five weeks, from six to twelve young ; and a single pair 

 increase in a short time to the number of 1,000. Their 

 flesh is insipid, and their skins hardly of any use. 

 - § 151. The American Hare (Lepus Americanus) is as 

 large as a gray-squirrel, grayish brown, has very long ears, 

 a short hairy tail, and is a native of North America. The 

 American Hare, commonly, but improperly, called rabbit, 

 is of no great use, for its flesh is insipid, and its fur of 

 little value. 



§ 152. The Common Hare (Lepus timidus) is as large 

 as a fox, grayish brown, has long pointed ears, and is a 

 native of Europe. The fur of the Common Hare forms 

 an important article in the hat manufacture, and its excel- 

 lent flesh is often found in the market. 



\ 153. The Rabbit (Lepus Cuniculus) is as large as a 

 gray-squirrel, of a gray color when wild, but various 

 when domesticated. The white, with red eyes, are 

 among the most common kind of Albinos. The Rabbit 

 was originally a native of the warmer regions of the Old 

 World, but is now found domesticated everywhere. Its 

 flesh is insipid ; its skin of no value ; of its fur are 

 made gloves, stockings, and hats. The Rabbit produces 

 each month about six young; and on account of its fe- 

 cundity, it has become, in some places, a public ca- 

 lamity. ' 



\ 154. The Jumping Hare (Dipus Jerboa) is of the size 

 of a rabbit, of a grayish-brown color, and is a native of the 

 prairies of Southern Russia and Western Asia, where it' 

 lives in holes in the ground. The fore-legs of the Jump- 

 ing Hare are very short, not used in walking, but his hind- 

 legs are much elongated, by the aid of which, and by the 

 use of its long tail, as a support, it executes a leap several 



