AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 



Sir 



AMERICAN VARYING HARE. 



LEPUS VIRGINMNUS.—Rxu^xs. 



Varying Hare, Pennant Quad. Warden Descrip. U. S. 

 V. p. 635. Lewis & Clarke, 2. p. 17S. Lepits Vir- 

 ginianus, Harlan. Faun. am. 196,300. Prairie Hare, 

 Richardson, Faun. am. bor. — Philadelphia Museum. 



Few of the genera of quadrupeds present more obstacles 

 to the naturalist, than that of Lepus; among the species of 

 which there are so many points of similarity and almost 

 identity, that it is a task of no slight difficulty to distinguish 

 whether the differential characters which have been assigned 

 to them, are really specific, or only arise from the modify- 

 ing influence of climate and habitat. But although the seve- 

 ral species of this genus are so analogous as to constitute 

 one of the most natural groups of the mammalia, they are 

 spread over a wide extent of the globe, exhibiting, how- 

 ever, in every country, the same characteristics. When we 

 consider the great and almost incredible changes that are 

 wrought in the external configuration and habits of animals 

 by change of residence, and the effects of domestication, 

 it must be evident that it is often impossible to determine 

 whether the apparent differences between animals arise from 

 their descent from various parent stocks, or have been pro- 

 duced by the gradual operation of extrinsic causes. Thus, 

 when the natural history of any one of our domestic ani- 

 mals, as the sheep for example, is sufficiently known; when 

 we find, on its transportation from one climate to another, 

 that changes are produced, apparently amounting to specific 

 differences, it becomes exceedingly difficult to assign any 

 limits to this operation of nature, and to decide, in an ab- 

 solute manner, between the analogy and affinity of animals. 

 These observations apply with great force to the genus un- 

 der consideration, from the striking similarity that exists 

 between the species composing it, species, however, it 

 should be recollected, sanctioned by the highest names in 

 zoology. 



As the resemblance of the various species to the common 

 type is almost as strong in their habits and manners as in 

 external characters, what we shall notice in speaking of the 

 genus is applicable, in a great measure, to the individual 

 which now engages our attention. 



The Hares belong to the great order of Rodentia or Gnaw- 

 ers; they are distinguished by the number and singular ar- 

 rangement of their upper incisor teeth, the structure of 

 their head, and many other organic peculiarities. The head 

 is narrow and compressed, with a rather acute snout; the 

 eyes large, prominent, and placed laterally; the ears are 

 long, and placed close to each other. The upper lip is cleft, 

 31 



and the inside of the cheeks covered with hair; in each 

 groin there is a fold of skin, that forms a kind of pouch. 

 The fore legs are short, and have five toes, covered with a 

 soft velvety hair; the hinder legs are very long, and have 

 only four toes, the soles of which are furnished with hair, 

 analogous to the anterior feet. There are twenty-eight 

 teeth — incisors |, molar 4|- The upper incisors are dou- 

 ble, that is, there are two rows, one behind the other, the 

 posterior of which is the smaller; and at one moment, when 

 they are changing their teeth, they appear to have three 

 rows or six upper incisors. 



There is one very remarkable anatomical peculiarity in 

 this genus; the females are furnished with a double matrix, 

 so that two contemporaneous fecundations can go on together; 

 this peculiarity of form also accounts for these animals being 

 so extremely prolific. They are capable of reproduction at 

 a very early age, and produce young every thirty days, 

 having from two to five at a birth. 



According to the Mosaic ordinances, these animals are 

 placed among the ruminants. This arose, perhaps, from the 

 stomach appearing double, owingto a peculiarfold in it; added 

 to which, the coecum is so large that, in the infancy of ana- 

 tomical knowledge, it might readily have been mistaken for 

 a second stomach; the Hare genus have also the habit of 

 keeping their under lip in constant motion, giving the sem- 

 blance of rumination. But, although forbidden to be eaten 

 by the Jews, and even by the ancient Britons, the flesh 

 of the Hare appears to have been held in great esteem by 

 the epicures of Rome; thus, Martial saj^s, ^' Inter quadru- 

 pedes gloria prima Lepus," and Horace, who is no slight 

 authority as regards the pleasures of the table, gives it as 

 his opinion, that every man of taste must prefer the fore leg: 

 " Fecunditur Leporis sapiens sectabitur aj'mos." 



The eye of the Hare has no accessory organ, and the pu- 

 pil is elongated horizontally; their nostrils are nearly circu- 

 lar, and almost hidden in a fold, so that they can be closed. 

 The ears of all the species are very large, and are also capa- 

 ble of being closed at the will of the animal. The voice of 

 these animals is seldom or never heard, except when they are 

 irritated or wounded, when they utter a loud piercing cr}^, 

 bearing some resemblance to that of a child in pain. Al- 

 though exceedingly timid and watchful, the Hare is capable 

 of being domesticated, and even taught a variety of tricks. 

 One was exhibited in London, some time since, which could 

 play on the tambourine, discharge a pistol, and perform a 

 variety of other feats of as strange a character for an animal 

 of so fearful a disposition. 



From the great length of the hinder legs, the gait of the 

 Hare is a succession of leaps, or an interrupted gallop; like 

 all animals of this conformation they sit on the tarsi of the 

 hinder feet, and use the anterior extremities to convey food 



