THE HARE 



(Lepus europceus) 



FOR many years the true or brown hare was known scientifically as Lepus 

 timidus, but as that name was originally bestowed by Linnasus on the blue 



hare of Sweden, it has been transferred to that species. Perhaps less 

 confusion would have resulted had it been allowed to continue as the technical 

 designation of the species with which it was so long associated. 



No one, of course, can mistake a hare for any other animal, and therefore 

 anything in the way of description would be superfluous. It is, however, important 

 to point out the characters by which the brown, or English species, is distinguished 

 from the blue hare, which is found in Scotland and Ireland. 



The brown hare, then, is specially characterised by its relatively large size, 

 its very long ears, which exceed the head in length, the presence of a distinct white 

 streak above each eye, and of a rusty red area on the thigh and generally another 

 on the flank ; additional characteristics being the black upper surface of the tail and 

 the black tips to the ears. The general colour of the thick soft fur is rufous tawny, 

 mingled with black above and white beneath, the dark area extending, however, 

 to the throat and chest ; there is but little difference between the summer and the 

 winter coat, although the latter is always somewhat the lighter. Length of limb, 

 especially in respect of the hind pair, is a structural characteristic of the hare. 



The range of the brown hare includes the whole of central Europe, and a 

 small portion of western Asia ; its northern limits in Europe being formed by the 

 lowlands of Scotland, southern Sweden, and southern Russia, while in the south 

 it extends to northern Italy, southern France, and Spain. Nine local races of the 

 species are recognised, of which the British is known as L. eiiropceus Occident alls. 



Compared with the brown species, the blue or mountain hare, now known 

 as L. timidus, is a smaller animal, with the ears, hind-legs, and tail shorter, 

 the head smaller and more rounded, and the colour frequently bluish or brownish 

 grey above in summer, without any rufous or brown on the flanks, but with black 

 tips to the ears, and the under surface of the body white. The upper surface of the 

 tail may be either dark or white ; and as a rule the fur, with the exception of the 

 black ear-tips, turns white in winter. The range of this species extends from 

 Ireland and Sweden to the Alps, the Altai Mountains, the Caspian district, and Japan. 

 It is represented by numerous races, of which three occur in the British Isles. Of 

 these, the Irish hare (L. timidus hibemicus) has the ears shorter than the head, and 

 the tail wholly white ; the coat may turn white in severe winters. In the Scottish 

 hare (L. t. scoticus), on the other hand, the ears are nearly as long as the head, the 



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