922 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 
nearly within gunshot, until it is thoroughly scared by his perseverance, when it 
makes off. It is not difficult to get within bow-shot of it, by walking round it, and 
gradually contracting the circle—a method much practised by the Indians.. In 
the late boat-voyage along the northern coast, we landed on a rocky islet, off 
Cape Parry, which, though not above three hundred yards in diameter, was. 
tenanted by a solitary alpine hare. The whole. party went in pursuit of this poor 
animal ; but it availed itself so skilfully of the shelter of the rocks, and retreated 
with so much cunning and activity from stone to stone, that none of us could 
obtain a shot at it, although it never was able to conceal itself from our search for 
more than a minute or two at a time. 
The winter fur of the Polar Hare is of a snow-white colour to the roots, and is 
more dense, and of a finer quality than that of the American hare. It bears a 
close resemblance to swan-down. The fur is in prime order in latitude 65°, about 
the end of October, and -begins towards the end of April to be replaced by the 
summer coat, which is more or less coloured. I have killed individuals at the 
time they were losing their winter fur, and have seen others exhibiting dark 
colours later in the season, but have not been able to obtain a full-grown summer 
specimen. Fabricius informs us that, in Greenland, the Polar Hares retain their 
white colour all the summer. Captain Sabine states, that some full-grown spe- 
cimens, killed on Melville Island (lat. 75°), in the height of summer, had the hair 
of the back and sides of a grayish-browa colour towards the points, but the mass 
of fur beneath still remained white; the face and front of the ears were of a 
deeper gray. The fur was interspersed with long solitary hairs, which, in many 
individuals, were banded with brown and white in the middle of summer. The 
weight of a full-grown Polar Hare varies, according to its condition, from 7 to 14lbs., 
and a similar variation, in the weight of the common British hare, is known to 
exist. Its flesh is whitish, and well flavoured, being greatly superior to that of 
the American hare; and also much more juicy than the alpine or varying hare of 
Scotland. 
According to Indian information, the Polar Hare brings forth once in the year, 
and from two to four young at a time. Fabricius says that, in Greenland, they 
produce eight young at a birth, in the month of June: they pair in April. 
DESCRIPTION 
Of a full-grown winter specimen, from Bear Lake. 
Size.—Equal to that of the largest English hare, superior to. that of the varying.or oohaiae 
hare of Scotland. Scull one-third larger than that: of the American: hare; with a larger: 
Ss lio 
