204 FAMILIAR LIFE IN FIELD AND FOREST. 



ward. In spring the process is exactly reversed — the 

 exposed portions of the stiii fur become black by the 

 end of March, and while the animal is still white 

 hundreds of the blackish hairs appear scattered over 

 the back, some of which are white in the middle and 

 others white on the tips. In the course of time the 

 white fur loses its vitality, becomes brittle, and is 

 brushed off by the underwood of the forest. 



Professor Allen says that while the change from 

 brown to white in the American varying hare is sup- 

 posed to be largely due to molt, it sometimes ap- 

 pears to take place so suddenly that it is popularly 

 thought to be due in some degree to the blanching of 

 the hair; but the real nature of the change is not 

 precisely agreed upon by naturalists, it is as yet a 

 matter of dispute. 



We are at liberty, then, to accept any hypothesis 

 of this remarkable change of color which seems most 

 reasonable ; and " who shall decide when doctors 

 disagree ? " 



In summer this varying hare feeds upon leaves, 

 buds, berries, and succulent herbs and grasses. In 

 winter he has to content himself with the bark of 

 young poplars, birches, willows, and such berries as 

 the snow may leave uncovered ; often, too, he gets 

 what he can in the vicinity of the farm by prowling 

 around at night. But his enemies are plenty — the 



