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NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS IN ALASKA. 



obscured by dense, low-lying clouds. Altliougli tbey are uocturual iu their habits, yet they see 

 very vrell iu the day, and it is extremely difficult to surprise one iu its form. LTsually it spies 

 the hunter before he gets within gunshot and leaves the spot iu great haste. 



During most of the year these animals are essentially solitary, but during April and May they 

 gather into small parties, and sometimes as many as a dozen or more may be found ou a single 

 hillside. At this season the beds of creeks and other hollows are filled with slush and water, 

 covering the ice below. This water is frequently several feet deep, and iu many instances I saw 

 places where these hares had come down the bank and, judging from their tracks, had plunged iu 

 without hesitation and swum across to the opposite side. Their tracks showed by the shortness of 

 the jumps as they approached the water that they were iu no way frightened or forced to cross. 

 In one case a stream over 30 yards across was thus passed by one of these animals. 



In October they again resume their winter dress. The new snow now preserves their tracks 

 and they once more become an object of pursuit to the Eskimo hunter. They are very shy all 

 winter, and unless surprised and shot in their forms are very difficult to obtaiu. 



The hunters usually go out after a new fall of suow and trail the hare to its form. The hare 

 starts off at a run before the hunter gets within guushot and the latter follows at a slow trot upon 

 his snow-shoes. This is frequently kept up for a half dozen miles, or perhaps more, until the hare 

 becomes exhausted, and finally allows the hunter to get within easy range and secure the prize. 

 At other times the hunter's breath is exhausted first and he returns home minus the hare. I may 

 say that this was usually the writer's experience. 



Were it not for its black ear-tips and large eyes this hare would be very difficult to see 

 iu winter, even when sitting ou the open snow-covered plain. Their legs are much shorter, 

 and the entire animal is heavier built, than the "jack rabbit" or hare of the western plains, but 

 their weight is about the same. As a consequence they cannot approach their southern congener 

 in the matter of speed. 



Their fur is very abundant, and in winter is nearly as light aud soft as swan's down. Wolves, 

 foxes, gyrfalcons, aud suowy owls are the natural enemies they are forced to guard against. Their 

 skins are very fragile, so that their handsome fur is but little valued. It is used for clothing to a 

 small extent. Their flesh is excellent eating. 



During the rutting season some are snared by the hunters, who set fine-meshed sinew nets in 

 places much frequeuted by them. 



In severe wiuter weather they seek the shelter of willow or alder patches on the slopes of 

 sheltered raviues or iu other comfortable situations, but as a rule they are characteristic of the 

 opeu Arctic barrens, and on the wide expanse of desolate snow their tracks are among the few 

 evidences of life the traveler finds in crossing the Alaskan tundras in winter. 



During one wiuter at Saint Michaels my friend, Mr. Rudolph Neumann, had one of these 

 animals for a pet. It was kept iu the dining-room at the fort and became quite domesticated. It 

 was very mischievous, aud would sit up before a person and beg for food, and if ignored would 

 attract attention by striking one's legs with its fore-paws. Owing to being teased it finally became 

 ill-tempered, and would strike one's hand a painful blow with its fore-foot when displeased. 

 Eventually it came to a tragic end, as seemed to be the fate of all pets reared about the fort. 



Lepus americanus americanus (Erxleben). 

 gu-ul<). 



List of bpecimcns. 



Northern Varying Hare (Esk. Mu-gd- 



