NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 129 



NOTE T. 



In 1810 I saw a great number of ravens on the borders of the beautiful Lake Canade- 

 saga, or Seneca, near the village of Geneva, and was told that no crows had made their 

 appearance in that part of the country. Michaux, in his travels before quoted, observes, 

 that the crows have not yet been seen in Tenessee; but it is probable that their 

 appearance is only deferred, for they are already very destructive in Kentucky. The 

 gray rats of Europe in like manner follow the establishments of the whites ; they have 

 not yet penetrated into Cumberland in Tenessee ; they make their appearance a few 

 years after the country has been inhabited. 



NOTE U. 



The lepus Americanus described by Linnaeus evidently means our wild rabbit. It 

 cannot apply to the northern hare, which is evidently larger than it. 



Dr. Belknap denominates our hare the lepus timidus, or common hare, and our rabbit 

 the lepus cuniculus, or common rabbit of Europe. He is mistaken in both appellations. 

 The common hare does not exist in this country, nor, it is believed, in any part of Ame- 

 rica, although Linnaeus says that it inhabits Europe, Asia, and America. We certainly 

 hare no animal corresponding with it. Nor does our hare resemble the lepus variabilis, 

 as described by Linnaeus. He says that it inhabits the northern hills of Europe, Asia, 

 and America, migrates in troops in winter into the plains, and returns in spring to the 

 mountains ; that it is easily tamed, is playful, and fond of honey. This does not, in any 

 respect, apply to our hare, nor does his description of its colour and changes apply. 

 Our hare is the most wild and indocile of animals. I had several of them caught alive 

 at Albany, with a view of letting them loose for propagation in the thick, impenetrable 

 swamps of Long Island ; but such was their wildness that of twenty or thirty procured 

 for that purpose, they either pined away, or killed themselves by beating against their 

 cages, and I therefore could not succeed in my plan. They were entirely white, and 

 their flesh is excellent. 



Kalra describes our wild rabbit as a hare, and as much smaller than the Swedish hare, and 



but little bigger than that of the rabbit of Europe. (Kalm's Travels, vol. 1.) He fur- 



19 



