269 The Hare. 



scantily-haired ears, and a brighter, redder colouring; 

 whilst in Scotland the Common Hares possess a heavier 

 and show a more greyish coat, especially in winter. 

 In addition to these main variations of type, the Common 

 Hare is subject to others of considerable extent, but locally 

 influenced, as it is also, but in a lesser degree, to variations 

 of size and shape. Thus what are called yellow hares 

 occur not infrequently all over the country ; whilst there 

 is a peculiar strain of grey hares which prevails in Norfolk, 

 and is of occasional occurrence elsewhere. Black hares 

 are occasionally recorded throughout Great Britain. 

 Albinos are also of not uncommon happening, and pied 

 specimens are not unknown, the latter colouring being due 

 to individual disease. The " yellow " hares invariably 

 more closely resemble the rabbit in form and size than the 

 typical hare. 



The Mountain Hare is " bluer " in colour than the 

 common species, the ears are shorter and tipped with black. 

 It is actually the true Arctic hare, and goes through the 

 process of changing its coat to white during the winter 

 months, which renders it most noteworthy. The change 

 is gradual, commencing from the middle to the end of 

 September. The feet change first, the white passing 

 upwards over the legs, and gradually extending until all 

 but the back is white, this portion of the body maintain- 

 ing its summer colouring longest, until somewhat suddenly 

 the process is completed, and the whole animal becomes of 

 a beautiful glossy white, the tips of the ears alone remain- 

 ing black. The process is not in this case a shedding of 

 the coat, but is an actual change of colour in the fur. 

 But the return to the Mountain Hare's natural hue is 

 really a shedding of the fur, commencing generally in 

 March, and being completed about the second week in 

 May. The hare is almost as deserving of the epithet 



