94 
MAMMALS. 
living in the latter place, it is supposed to cross with L. 
variabilis, and certainly we have seen hares that had every 
appearance of being such hybrids. 
Said to have been common in the lower lands and the 
limestone ranges of Assynt in Selby's time. It is now 
extremely rare, if not extinct there. We have only seen two 
examples during seventeen years' knowledge of Assynt, and 
these both on the same day; but in 1885 a few reappeared 
in the Loanan Strath, near Inchnadamph. 
Very common in Caithness (Jide W. Eeid). 
71. Lepus variabilis, Pallas. Mountain Hare. 
The white hare has been gradually decreasing in numbers 
for some years past. There are no hills in Assynt at all 
famous for the numbers of these creatures, but there is no 
doubt that they were much more plentiful only some sixteen 
or twenty years ago, and within our own recollection, than 
they are now. Persistent shooting has in some cases had 
to answer for this scarcity. At one time the two Bens 
Griam were plentifully supplied with hares, but several 
thousands having been killed off these hills alone some 
years ago, the stock did not get up for many seasons after ; 
now, however (1885), they are becoming much more 
numerous, though still not up to their former abundance. 
Since the larger shootings were broken up in 1873, each 
lessee used in many cases to allow his keeper to kill hares 
in the winter, and as hares generally come down from the 
higher grounds at that time, far more were killed than 
belonged by rights to the ground ; and as this has now been 
going on for several years, and during that time we have 
had two very severe seasons, it is no wonder that white 
hares were getting scarce. They are, however, gradually 
getting more abundant again, but seem to be more local 
than formerly. 
