SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



47 



overcome by patience and trouble. But I never yet 

 met anyone who had devoted special attention to the 

 investigation of the diseases which affect our smaller 

 wild animals." Further he says: "The topic seems 

 to suggest fresh fields for skilled research," and 

 again, " Men neglect to study the habits of the 

 birds or beasts which live around them, simply 



Europe. One with fur of thick texture, and 

 showing a tendency to become white in winter, 

 inhabits North-east Europe ; the central variety 

 of Europe, which includes our English hare, is 

 characterised by having fur of moderate texture ; 

 whilst the third form inhabits Southern Europe, 

 and exhibits a remarkable thinness of its fur, when 



"Making for the Hedgerow." 

 From^" The Hare " (Longmans' " Fur and Feather Series.") 



because, they say, 'they are common.' Almost 

 every bird or beast is common somewhere ; but 

 its abundance or scarcity is of minor importance to 

 the true naturalist." The common brown hare of 

 England and the Lowlands of Scotland is a 

 creature of temperate climates. Mr. Macpherson, 

 quoting Mr. Oldfield Thomas, of the British 

 Museum, says there are three distinct varieties in 



compared with the other two varieties. We give, 

 by the courtesy of Messrs. Longmans, two of the 

 illustrations from this work : one showing the 

 "red" hare, in the picture entitled "Making for 

 the Hedgerow," and the other of "blue" hares, or 

 " mountain hares," an entirely different race from 

 the red, in that labelled " A Hare Drive." Red 

 hares in Britain vary considerably in weight, 



