HARES. 93 



Lepus aquaticws. — Bachman. Habitat, Gulf States south 

 through the lowlands of Mexico to Central America. 



The above list of the Hares of North America found north of the 

 southern boundary of the United States, is drawn from Mr. J. A. 

 Allen's recently published study of the genus, and includes all that 

 the sportsman will be Ukely to meet with. 



Hares are grey, or brown, but their specific distinctions are so 

 slightly marked, that it requires the eye of a practiced naturalist 

 to distinguish between two nearly allied species. For this reason 

 no detailed description is given of the different species and varie- 

 ties above mentioned. Of all those of which we have spoken, but 

 three, to be mentioned hereafter, turn white in winter. 



Among all the numerous representatives of the Leporida, 

 which are found in every section of our country, we have no true 

 rabbit. Hares are common in all parts of the United States and 

 the British Provinces, but they all differ in essential particulars 

 from the Rabbit proper, Lepus cuniculus of Europe. Briefly, some 

 of the distinctive traits are as follows, and may be classed roughly 

 under two heads : — first, anatomical differences, secondly, differ- 

 ence in habit. Of the first, it is unnecessary to speak at length, 

 for its truth is well known to such as have examined the structural 

 features of both. In habit, there is also a wide difference. Hares 

 do not live in burrows, as is the case with the rabbit, but lie in 

 a form,»n bush, or thicket, a slight depression in the ground fre- 

 quently serving for a nest, or occasionally they select a hollow 

 stump or the under side of a detached ledge of rock as a domicile. 

 The young when they first make their appearance are covered with 

 hair, their eyes are open, and they are able almost immediately to 

 support themselves. On the other hand, the rabbit is bom naked, 

 with closed eyes, and requires the constant attention of the mother 

 for some time. 



The Hares are not so prolific as the Rabbits, the female bring- 

 ing forth but from three to five leverets at a litter, the Lepus cu- 

 niculus bearing from five to eight. Hares feed generally at night, 

 lying in their forms in some bush or copse, during the greater pan 

 of the day. The Rabbit, on the contrary, generally remafns en- 

 sconced in the warmest corner of the burrow during the dark hours. 



Of the principal representatives of the genus in this country 



