AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
219 
in summer, white in winter; the orbits of the eyes sur- 
rounded by a reddish fawn colour at all times; ears and head 
of nearly equal length; tail very short.”'* 
Dr. Godman, however, doubts the propriety of erecting 
this into a new species, on the ground of the differential 
characters adduced not being sufficient. “ When,” says he, 
“ we compare this animal with the polar hare, L. glacialis 
Sabine, and with the L. variabilis, or Alpine hare, we shall 
be convinced that distinctive characters have not yet been 
given to establish the supposed new species, as well as that 
such distinctive characters are very few and difficult of dis- 
covery.” We fully agree with this author as to the want 
of character in the specific description, and that taking this 
alone, there would not, perhaps, be any just grounds for ele- 
vating it into a new species. But, at the same time, as we 
have before observed, the species of the genus Lepus resem- 
ble each other so closely, that it is almost impossible to de- 
termine what should be assumed as differential characters. 
The author of the Fauna Americana, it should be stated, has 
the strong support of Dr. Richardson, in corroboration of the 
validity of his species. This author makes an observation in 
his account of it, however, which may lead to error — that the 
identity of the specimen described by Dr. Godman, with 
the L. virginianus of Dr. Harlan, has not been ascertained ; 
now, if we mistake not, both these authors drew up their 
accounts from the same specimens; thus, the former says, 
“ Through the kindness of that zealous friend of science, 
Charles L. Buonaparte, we have had an opportunity of exa- 
mining and preparing a description of a hare, from specimens 
in winter and summer pelage, belonging to his valuable col- 
lection;” and the latter observes, “ The above description 
is taken principally from a prepared specimen in the posses- 
sion of Mr. C. Buonaparte.” 
Before attempting to compare this animal with the other 
American species, we will give a description of the speci- 
men from which our illustration was drawn. This indivi- 
dual was obtained by Mr. Titian R. Peale, in the State of 
Maine, late in the autumn; it is evident that the change in 
the colour of the hair has not taken place, and hence no 
character can be drawn from this, as it presents a mixture 
of both coats. 
Size — larger than the common American Hare. Fur — 
forehead, cheeks, and back reddish brown, darker on the 
posterior parts of the body. These hairs are coloured as 
follows — plumbeous at base, then light yellow, then dusky, 
then reddish brown, and, finally, blackish at tip. Under 
jaw white, and this colour extends backwards as far as the 
bases of the ears. Belly and legs whitish, here and there 
tinged with light reddish brown; some irregular white spots 
* Fauna Americana, &c. by R. Harlan, M. D. 
on the back. Tail white beneath, light lead colour above. 
Ears whitish, tinged with reddish brown internally; whitish 
with a darker reddish brown border on their anterior mar- 
gin externally, tip brownish black. Orbits of the eye sur- 
rounded with a reddish brown. Whiskers , some of the 
hairs entirely white, others wholly black, and some black 
at base and white at tip. Feet, covered with a thick brush, 
which is of a soiled yellowish white, intermixed on top with 
reddish brown; fore toes short, claws white, long, not much 
curved, and resembling those of the common American 
Hare; hinder toes large, spreading. Our description being 
taken from a stuffed specimen, we are unable to give cor- 
rect measurements, or to say any thing about the weight, 
these, however, are very fallacious guides, as all the authors 
we have quoted give great latitude in this respect. The 
ears, also, are so much contracted by drying as to be much 
shorter than the head. 
That this species may be compared with the Polar Hare, 
( L. glacialis,) we subjoin a description of the latter as given 
by. Sabine. « The Polar Hare is larger than the variabilis. 
Its colour, in winter dress, is white, having the ears black 
at tip, and longer than the head. The nails are strong, 
broad, and depressed . The ears are longer in proportion to 
the head, than those of the common Hare, ( L. timidus,) and 
much longer than those of the Alpine Hare, ( L. variabi- 
lis.) The fore teeth are curves of a much larger circle, and 
the orbits of the eye project much more than those of either 
of the other species; the claws are broad, depressed, and 
strong, those of the L. timidus and L. variabilis, on the 
contrary, are weak and compressed.” 
Thus it will be seen that the species under consideration 
differs from the glacialis: in the length of its ears, in the 
form and strength of its nails, and in the reddish brown 
margin of the ears, which are never found in the Polar Hare 
in its winter dress. As respects the fawn coloured ring sur- 
rounding the orbits of the eyes, we are unable to speak from 
actual observation, except in the specimen under considera- 
tion, Dr. Godman, however, thinks that this does not always 
exist. The nearest approach of this species is certainly to 
the variabilis of the old continent, from which it neverthe- 
less appears to be distinct, in many particulars of its form 
and habits. 
The American Varying Hare appears to inhabit a great 
portion of North America, as it has been found in Virginia, 
and as far north as 55 degrees', whilst eastward it is found 
on the great plains of the Colombia. It appears generally 
to frequent plains and low grounds, where it lives like the 
common Hare, never burrowing, but does not resort to the 
thick woods. The variabilis of Europe, on the contrary, 
is described as always inhabiting the highest mountains, 
and never descending into the plains, except when forced 
