340 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



very little variety.-— Thofe of North-America are rather 

 lefs than the European. They frequent marines and 

 meadows, and when purfued take refuge in hollow trees. 



The Alpine HARE 



is grey in fummer, with a flight mixture of black and 

 tawny. Its hair is foft 5 its ears ihorter, and its legs 

 more llender, than the common Hare's. In winter, the 

 whole body changes to a fnowy whitenefs, except the 

 tips and edges of the ears, which remain black. 



This animal lives on the higheft hills in Scotland, 

 Norway, Lapland, Ruflia, and Siberia; never defcends 

 from the mountains, nor mixes with the common Hare, 

 although they abound in the fame parts. — It does not run 

 fall ; and, when purfued, often takes {belter in clefts of 

 rocks. It is eafily tamed, is very frolicfome, and fond 

 of honey and other fweets. It changes its colour in Sep- 

 tember, and refumes its grey coat in April. — Troops of 

 five or fix hundred are fometimes feen, which migrate 

 towards the South in fpring, and return in autumn. 



A variety is found in thofe mountains of Tartary 

 which extend as far as the lake Baikal. It inhabits the 

 middle regions of the hills, among thick woods, and in 

 moift places abounding with grafs and herbage. It lives 

 in the crevices of rocks, and fometimes burrows in the 

 earth lodged between the clefts. — Its voice is a fllarp 

 whiftle, not unlike the chirping of a fparrow. 



In the autumn, great numbers of them aflemble to- 

 gether, and collect vaft quantities of the fineft herbs, 

 which, when dried, they form into pointed ricks of va- 

 rious fizes \ fome of them four or five feet in height, and 



