THE HARE. 



481 



from the soil and dried herbage among which she has taken up her temporary abode. Although 

 she has no definite home, the Hare is strongly attached to her "form," wherever it maybe 

 placed, and even if driven to a great distance by the hounds, contrives to regain her little 

 domicile at the earliest opportunity. As the varying seasons of the year bring on their varied 

 accompaniments of heat and cold, rain and drought, or clouds and sunshine, the Hare changes 

 the locality of her " form," so as to be equally defended against the bitter frost and snows of 

 winter, or the blazing rays of the noontide summer sun. 



The common Hare is not found in Ireland, but the Irish Hare, Lepus Mbemicus, is 

 extremely common in that country, and takes the place of the common Lepus timidus. It 

 may be distinguished from its English relation by its shorter limbs, its round head, and short 

 ears, which are not so long as the head. According to some writers, the Irish Hare is identical 



ALPINE HAKE.— Lepus variabilis. 



with the Alpine Hare, and ought to be ranked with that animal, under the title of Lepus 

 variabilis, or Variable Hare, in reference to the annual blanching of its coat during the 

 winter months. 



The Rabbit family {Leporidce) is represented in both North and South America, but is far 

 more numerous in the temperate portions of North America. 



One species only reaches the Arctic zone — the Polar Hare — which also ranges around the 

 globe within the circle. Lepus braziliensis is the only species found in South America, which 

 ranges from Patagonia to Central America. 



The great interior plains, or prairies, of North America afford numerous species. Four 

 are enumerated. 



The Hares are regarded as forming one of the best defined groups among mammals. 



The Prairie Hare {Lepus campestris) is one of the kinds discovered early by Lewis and 

 Clark, on the first opening of the great interior prairies. It is not known eastward of Fort 

 Riley, in Kansas. It is about twenty inches in length. Its winter coat is white, with some 

 rusty marks. In summer its coat is a yellowish-gray. In the Great Salt Lake Valley it is 

 abundant. 



The Northern Varying Hare {Lepus americanus) is about the same size as the preceding. 

 It is the most familiar and common variety known to our markets in winter. Several varieties 



