32 LEPORID^. 



The Prairie Hare {L. campestris) is one of the largest 

 hares of the continent, weighing from seven to eleven 

 pounds, and is of a grey colour tinged with yellow, the 

 entire under parts dusky white. It does not burrow, 

 and is found by the sportsman, like the two preceding 

 kinds, either with or without the use of dogs. 



The forests in most parts of Canada abound with 

 squirrels, which are perhaps more abundant and in greater 

 variety in North America than in any other part of the 

 world, widely distributed though they are. A large 

 black one,* fully double the size of our common red 

 squirrel, is so numerous at times, that scores may 

 be seen leaping from bough to bough. The flesh of this 

 kind, especially after the hickory nuts come in, is not 

 to be despised, being very white and tender, and of deli- 

 cate flavour. 1 have occasionally killed them when on 

 short commons, and consider the flesh, either stewed or 

 made into a curry, as equal to rabbit, and have passed it 

 off as such; on one occasion eliciting the highest com- 

 mendations of a brother ofiicer, who had often expressed 

 his disgust at the idea of eating squirrel. 



Black-squirrel shooting ranks as a field-sport amontr 

 the Yankees, whose aspirations, however, do not rise 

 very high in such matters ; and there are authenticated 



* Sciurus rdger. 



