96 
AMERICAN .HARE. 
Thefe animals are found from Hudjon’s Bay to the extremity of 
North America; but fwarm in countries bordering on the former. 
In the time of M. Feremie, who refided in Hudjon’s Bay from 1708 to 
1714, twenty-five thoufand were taken in one feafon*. At prefent 
they are a principal winter food to our refidents there. They are 
taken in wire fnares, placed at certain intervals in fmall openings 
made in a long extent of low hedging formed for that purpofe ; the 
animals never attempting to jump over, but always feek the gaps. 
Thefe hedges are removed, on the falling of the fnows, to other places, 
when the Rabbets feek new tracks +. Their flefh is very good; but 
almoft brown, like that of the Exglifh Hare. 
From Hud/on’s Bay, as low as New England, thefe animals, at ap- 
proach of winter, receive a new coat, which confifts of a multitude 
of long white hairs, twice as long as the fummer fur, which ftill re- 
mains beneath. About the middle of 4pril they begin to thed their 
winter cavering. 
From New England fouthward they retain their brown color the 
whole year. In both warm and cold climates they retain the fame 
nature of never burrowing ; but lodge in the hollow of fome decayed 
tree, to which they run in cafe they are purfued. In the cultivated 
parts of America, they make great havoke among the fields of cabbage, 
orturnips {. In Carolina, they frequent meadows and marfhy places ; 
and are very fubject to have maggots breed in the fkin §. In that 
-province they breed very often, and even in the winter months, and 
-brinig from two to fix at a time; but ufually two or four ||. 
I know of no ufe that is made of the fkins, excepting that the na- 
‘tives of Hud/on’s Bay wrap them round the limbs of their children, to 
‘preferve them againft the cold. 
* Voyages au Nord, iii. 344. + Drage, i. 176.  Kaln, ii. 46. 
1§ Law/on, 122. -|| Dofor Garden. 
rs ** With- 
