664 



APPENDIX. 



[No. V. 



Hystrix Dorsata. Canada Porcupine. 



This singular and uncouthly-looking animal has been known to naturalists since 

 the time of Edwards ; it is not, however, of frequent occurrence, which may be partly 

 caused by its increasing slowly by breeding, (for they are said to produce only a 

 single young one at a birth), and partly by the facility with which they are dis- 

 covered and taken by the Indians ; for their flesh being esteemed a delicacy, they are" 

 eagerly sought after. The Porcupine is found as far north as the forks of Mackenzie's 

 River, almost exclusively in woods, consisting of the Pinus Banksiana, upon the bark 

 of which it lives. It is much troubled with intestinal worms of a large size. It is 

 well described by Pennant, as well as noticed by Forster and Hearne. It appears to 

 be a stupid, inoffensive animal, scarcely capable of protecting itself against any 

 attack, the arms with which nature has furnished it being very weak defences 

 against any force. 



Lepus Glacialis. Polar Hare. 



Was long confounded with the Alpine Hare, (Lepus Variabilis), a specimen which 

 was brought home by the first Arctic Expedition was noted as a new species by Dr. 

 Leach, in the published account of that voyage. Captain Sabine, who found them 

 plentifully at Melville Island, has fully elucidated the difference between the two 

 species, iri his Zoological Appendix to Captain Parry's last voyage. There are three 

 known species of Lepus, which uniformly put on a new covering of whiteJYir in the 

 winter, the two above mentioned, and the American Hare, which is the subject of the 

 next article. The Polar Hare appears to vary much in size, and consequently in 

 weight; this perhaps may be caused by the quantity and quality of the food it can 

 command. Dr. Richardson observed that the Polar Hare is never seen in woods, it 

 frequents the Barren Grounds, living chiefly on the berries of the Arbutus Alpina, and 

 the bark of Dwarf Birch. It sits like the Common Hare, on the whole length of the 

 tarsal bones, but in running its hind feet make a round print in the snow, similar to 

 that made by the fore ones. 



Lepus Americanus. American Hare. 



These animals, which are generally called Rabbits about Hudson's Bay, extend 

 themselves over the whole of America, and are much used as food ; their flesh is brown, 

 like that of the Common Hare. They are not found more northward than Carlton 

 House, and they retire from thence southwards in the winter season; those which are 

 exposed to the severity of cold, put forth a clothing of fur double the length of their 

 summer dress, the lower part of which is brown, then red, and the entire upper part 



