MAMMALIA, 221 
[ 69. ] 2. Lepus euacratis. (Leach.) Polar Hare. 
Varying Hare. PENNANT, Arct. Zool., vol.i. p. 94. HEARNE, Journey, p. 382. 
Lepus timidus. Fasricius, Fauna Grenl., p. 25. 
Lepus glacialis. LxEacu, Ross’s Voyage. Capt. Sabine, Suppl. Parry’s First Voy., clxxxviii. SaBine (Mr.), 
FRANKLIN’s Journ., p. 664. RicnHarpson, Appendix Parry's Second Voy., p. 321. Haran, 
Fauna, p. 194. 
The Polar Hare. Gopman, Nat. Hist., vol. ii. p. 162. 
Kaw-choh. CoprpEr and Hare InpIAns. 
Ookalik. Esauimaux. Rekaleek. GREENLANDERS. 
This animal was, down to the period of Captain Ross’s voyage to Baffin’s Bay, 
considered as the same with the varying hare; although Pennant had remarked 
that its size was greater than that of the latter animal. Dr. Leach first noted 
Captain Ross’s specimens as belonging to a distinct species ; and Captain Sabine 
enumerated its specific characters in the Appendix to Captain Parry’s First Voyage. 
Many specimens, brought home by the late arctic voyagers, exist in various 
museums in Great Britain. The Polar Hare inhabits both sides of Baflin’s Bay, 
and is common on the Barren Grounds, at the northern extremity of the American 
continent. Its most southerly known habitat is the neighbourhood of Fort 
Churchill, on Hudson’s Bay, which is in the 58th parallel of latitude; but it may, 
perhaps, extend further to the southward on the elevated ridge of the Rocky 
Mountains, or on the eastern coast of Labrador. It is not found in wooded 
districts ; hence, it does not come further south on the line of the Mackenzie and 
Slave Lake than latitude 64°. It was found in latitude 75° on the North Georgian 
Islands. Although it does not frequent thick woods, it is often seen near the 
small and thin clumps of spruce fir, which are scattered on the confines of the 
Barren Grounds. It seeks the sides of hills, where the wind prevents the snow 
from lodging deeply, and where, even in the winter, it can procure the berries of 
the alpine arbutus, the bark of some dwarf willows, or the evergreen leaves of the 
Labrador tea-plant (/edum)*.. It does not dig burrows, but shelters itself amongst 
large stones, or in the crevices of rocks, and in the winter time its form is 
generally found in a wreath of snow, at the base ofa cliff. The Polar Hare is 
not a very shy animal, and on the approach of a hunter it merely runs to a little 
distance, and sits down, repeating this manceuvre as often as its pursuer comes 
_ * On the barren coast of Winter Island, the hares went out on the ice to the ships, to feed on the tea-leaves, 
thrown overboard by the sailors.—-Lion’s Private Journal. 
