LEPUS AMERICAXUS VIRGINIAXUS. 3O9 



in the town of Lyonsdalc, in Lewis County. In color they are 

 a uniform dark soot)-brown, Hohter on the soles of the feet. 



LEPUS AMERICANUS VIRGINIANUS ("^rian) Alien. 

 Southern Varying Hare. 



This variety or subspecies of the X'^aryino- Hare occurs in the 

 low border-lands of the Adirondacks, particularly in the valleys of 

 Lakes George and Champlain. but is not met with at any great 

 elevation, a few hundred feet constituting, in this latitude, its 

 altitudinal limit. 



Its food and habits are not known to differ from those of its 

 nearest relative, the great northern hare, from which it may be 

 distinguished, in winter, by the circumstance that the change to 

 white is not complete, more or less light reddish-brown remain- 

 ing about the head and ears, and on the; upper surfaces of the fore- 

 feet. 



Rabbits are not commonly supposed to swim, but Mr. William 

 Brewster has kindly written me of a case that fell under his [)ersonal 

 observation. He says: "While at Lake Umbagog, Maine, in the 

 summer of 1873, I saw something which may interest you. I was 

 paddling up Cambridge River one warm July morning when, upon 

 rounding a bend, my attention was attracted by a slight splashing 

 sound ahead, and looking closely I discovered a Rabbit {Lcptis 

 Americamis) evidentl\- about to attempt the passage of the stream 

 which at that place was perhaps one hundred fc^et wide, and at 

 least eiMit or ten deep. He entered the water deliberately, but 

 without apparent fear or hesitation, and was soon beyond his depth 

 and striking out boldly for the opposite shore. A more ridiculous 

 (albeit successful) attempt at swimming can scarcely be imagined. 

 He literally hopped through the water, using only his hind legs and 

 kickino- with such vigor that the whole forward part of his body 

 was raised above the surface at each stroke. Between the strokes 



