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343; 
LEPUS SYLVATICUS, (BAcHMAN) (ALLEN). 
THE WOOD HARE, GRAY RABBIT, COTTON TAIL. 
Specific Character.—Hind leg from heel, longer than the head by the length 
of the claws. Ears about two-thirds of the length of the head. Fur full and 
moderately soft. Pads of the feet full. Back light yellowish brown, banded and 
lined with black ; this colour extending along the anterior edge of thighs. Side 
much grayer ; across the rump clear ash, gray and black. Nape, fore-legs, and 
outside of hind legs yellowish rusty, anterior face of the latter whitish, throat 
yellowish gray. Lower parts pure white. Tail above, like the back, beneath 
pure cottony white. Ears with the posterior edge whitish; the edges of the 
dorsal surface towards the tip black, the other portion except the external 
band, ashy brown. Convavity of ear whitish. Fur everywhere at the base 
lead colour, except under the tail. Among the largest of the short-eared rab- 
bits of North America. Ears considerably shorter than the head ; measured 
from the base of the cartilage, of equal length. 
Habitat.—Uvited States generally, and the southern counties of Ontario. 
Average Size-—kEqual to that of a small cat. 
Average Weight.—3 pounds. 
Average Height.—6 inches. 
Average Length.—134 inches ; nose to tail, 12 inches; tail, 14 inch. 
Value of Fur.—Valueless. 
This representative of the Leporide is exceedingly common throughout the 
southern part of Ontario and is generally called a rabbit, on account of its resem- 
blance to the English rabbit. It is not, however, like it anatomically nor in its 
habits, in the latter of which there is a wide difference. Hares do not live in bur- 
rows as rabbits do, but lie in form in some bush or thicket ; a hollow stump or 
log or under a log heap serving for a nest, although a common place is 
a shallow hole dug in the ground in a hay or grain field. This is lined with 
grasses, then with fur, and the young are there nursed until ready to shift for 
themselves. When born they are covered with hair and bave their eyes open. 
Rabbits are born naked and have their eyes closed for a number of days. Hares 
only bring forth a litter of from three to tive leverets in the months of May and 
July, while rabbits bear from five to eight. 
The rabbit always burrows, and lives in its burrow during the night, feeding 
by day. The hare, on the contrary, feeds principally after sunset and during the 
night. This hare does not turn white in winter as does the Northern hare. 
It is a destructive little animal, very injurious to fruit trees on account of 
its habit of eating bark. It is considered good eating and is generally shot by 
the sportsman when other game is scarce. 
___ It is only within the last twenty or twenty-tive years that it has been known 
in Ontario, migrating from the United States, crossing the Niagara River possibly 
some fine moonlight night over the Suspension Bridge. 
