THE MOUNTAIN OR BLUE HARE 309 



that white hares are so frequent on the Scottish mountains, and 

 especially as you inform me that it is a distinct species; for the 

 quadrupeds of Britain are so few, that every new species is a great 

 acquisition.'' 



White's remarks are explained by Pennant's own statement in his 

 Tour in Scotland (1772, 96), that on 31st August 1769 he met with 

 " white hares " on the summits of the hills by Loch Ness, Inverness, and 

 (p. 102) that on 4th September following he noted the occurrence 

 of " Alpine Hares " at Glencoe, Argyllshire. The species made its first 

 appearance in his works in 1770 (see above, under Synonymy). He 

 probably also observed these animals on the island of Islay, since in 

 writing of its fauna in 1774 (P- 230) he mentions "hares : the last small, 

 dark-coloured, and bad runners." It is pretty certain that he sent one 

 to Daines Harrington, for the latter, who, like Pennant, corresponded 

 with White, wrote {Phil. Trans., Ixii., 1772, 11, footnote U) of the 

 " Alpine Hare " that " This species of Hare is found in the Highlands 

 of Scotland, whence I received a specimen, which I had the honour of 

 presenting to the Museum of the Royal Society." The Museum or 

 " Repository " of the Royal Society was handed over to the British 

 Museum in 1779, but its contents were not specially labelled, so that 

 Harrington's specimen cannot be traced. 



Another writer, Walker, whose Essays (see Synonymy) although not 

 published until 1808, were probably written between 1764 and 1774, must 

 have known of the existence of White Hares at an early date, but there 

 is no means of ascertaining exactly when, and he may have obtained his 

 knowledge from Pennant. 



Distribution : — The Scottish Hare is now indigenous only to the 

 Highlands of Scotland. Elsewhere in Scotland, although not indi- 

 genous, it is widely distributed owing to numerous introductions, the 

 first of which took place in the 'thirties and 'forties (W. Evans), in the 

 counties of Peebles, Ayr, and Lanark. From these districts the hares 

 dispersed widely, and they now frequent all hills of 1500 feet and 

 upwards, and very many of lower elevation. The subspecies may, 

 therefore, be described as thoroughly established in all suitable localities 

 throughout the south and south-west of Scotland (for further particulars, 

 see Alston; Service, Zoologist, 1893,265, and 1895, 375; Boyd Watt, 

 Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. (Glasgow), vii., N.S., February 1905, 13; W. 

 Evans ; and Harvie-Brown's Faunas) ; but in all cases south of the 

 Clyde and Forth, as the result of introduction by man. The latest 

 extension of range, as reported by W. Evans includes the Berwickshire 

 portion of the Lammermuir Hills, where it is fast becoming plentiful. 



Where not shot down, the Mountain Hare is extremely numerous in 

 many parts of the Highlands; in so much so that although its pursuit 

 is not valued from a sporting point of view, it is customary to organise 



