346 
VERTEBRATA. 
1 
turer. Captain Ross says, " There is scarcely a spot in the Arctic regions — the most destitute 
and sterile that can be conceived — Avhere this animal is not to be found, and that, too, through- 
out the winter ; nor does it seek to shelter itself from the inclemency of the weather, by bur- 
rowing in the snow, but is generally found sitting solitary under the lid of a large stone, where 
the snow-drift, as it passes along, seems in some measure to afford a protection from the bitter- 
ness of the blast that impels it, by collecting around and half burying the animal beneath it." 
It is interesting to find that nature has so provided for this remarkable animal, that it finds a 
happy existence in regions abandoned to desolation by almost every other living thing. Its coat 
of fur is so thick as to repel the rain and exclude the cold ; its eye is adapted to the dim 
twilight that reigns in the Arctic circle for a long portion of the year, and if oflfended by the 
glare of the sun at other seasons, it finds shelter in the shade of the dwarf trees and shrubs 
that abound. In summer its skin is nearly the color of the earth, and in winter it is white as 
the snow ; and it is curious to observe that, while the summer is short and the winter long, so 
these changes are adjusted to the length of the seasons. The Northern Hare begins to turn 
white in November, and the Polar hare in September ; the former resumes its brown tint in April, 
and the latter in June. If these adaptations are designed to protect these animals from their 
enemies, by rendering them less liable to observation, as no doubt they are, how interesting 
is this provision which screens the Polar hare from the searching gaze of the golden eagle and the 
snowy owl — its chief destroyers — by keeping its skin brown just so long as the earth is brown, 
and changing it to white as the earth itself becomes white. And this adaptation, which reaches 
even the timid, defenseless crouching hare, proceeds fi'om a law as extensive as the universe! 
The Marsh Hare, L. pcdust^'is, is somewhat smaller than the gray rabbit, the upper surface 
being of a yellowish brown color in summer, and growing darker in winter ; beneath it is a light 
gray ; length thirteen inches. It is slower of foot than other hares, and is protected chiefly by 
the miry and tangled nature of its haunts. It is confined to the maritime portions of the Southern 
States, and lives chiefly in marshy lands bordering on I'ivers and ponds, being quite numerous in 
some localities. It appears never to visit the plantations, nor to dwell in the uplands. It winds 
with facility among the rank grasses and overgrown shrubbery of the swamps, and not unfrequently 
takes to the Avater and amuses itself by gambols in that element. Its nest is made of rushes, 
lined with hair, and is often near the surface of the water, sometimes almost floating upon it. 
The young are from five to seven at a birth. 
The Swamp Hare, L. aquatims, is of the size of the northern hare, being about twenty inches 
long, and weighing seven to ten pounds. The general color is dark grayish-brown above, and 
white beneath. It is found in the Southwestern States. It frequents marshy or wet places, in 
the vicinity of rivers and ponds, though occasionally seen in the high grounds. It swims with 
facility, and when pursued, often escapes by taking to the water. The nests are formed of leaves 
and grasses, placed on mounds in the swamps. The breeding takes place twice in a season, 
and from four to six young ones are produced at a littei-. 
The Rocky Mountain Hare, L. Townsendii, is somewhat larger than the preceding, the color 
being light gray above and white beneath. It measures about twenty-two inches, and weighs 
six to eight pounds. The form is slender and the speed great. It is found on both sides of the 
Rocky Mountains. It does not change its color in winter. 
The Black-tailed Hare, L. callotis, L. nigricaudatus of Bennett, resembles the preceding in 
its long ears, long legs, and long body, as well as in its speed, which is great. The tail is long 
and black ; color yellowish-brown, mottled with gray above and white beneath. Its leng-th is 
twenty inches. It is common in Mexico and the neighboring countries. 
The Wormwood Hare, L. Artemisia., is a small species, even smaller than the gray rabbit, the 
ears being very long and conspicuous ; the color a reddish-gray above and white below. Its 
length is twelve inches : it is found in the vicinity of Fort Walla-Walla, Washington Territory, 
and derives its name from frequenting the wormwood shrubberies which abound in that region, 
Nuttall's Hare, L. Niittalii^ is of a dark brown, mixed with light buff" above and yellowish- 
gray beneath, and is but six or seven inches long. It is found in Oregon Territory, inhabiting the 
thickets along streams that flow into the Columbia and Shoshonee rivers. 
