1134 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
x 
Vol. XXVIII, No. 1 
The hare is apparently a solitary animal, more than one seldom being seen at 
a time, except perhaps in the breeding season. The breeding season, however, 
is indefinite, as young are said to be found at any time from early in spring till late 
in fall. There is uncertainty as to the number of litters brought forth each year, 
but it seems probable that there are at least two, with an average of two to 
three young to the litter. Barrett-Hamilton states, 4 that the fact that youirg 
may be found throughout the year makes it unlikely that there can, as a rule, 
be less than two or three litters. He further states: 
Most observers have met with small numbers of leverets together up to, at 
most, four; but larger litters of five, six, seven, or more have occasionally been 
reported. 
He also quotes J. C. Mansel-Pleydell as authority for the statement that, 
while five were once found together, three is the usual number with vigorous 
mothers; but with old does only two, and with young mothers one. The period 
of gestation is probably about 30 days, although definite information on the 
subject is not available. 
HISTORY OF INTRODUCTION 
European hares were introduced into America solely as game animals for sport 
in coursing. They were at first liberated in New York State in a game preserve 
but were eventually turned loose in the open, as the preserve proved unsuited 
for coursing, even had the 9-mile fence that was erected been capable of retain¬ 
ing the animals. 
There appear to have been five or more successful importations of these hares 
into America. Probably the most successful, from the standpoint of the sub¬ 
sequent rate of spread and increase, took place about 1893 at Millbrook, Dutchess 
County, N. Y. In that year a wealthy resident brought in several hundred 
from Hungary through a New York importing company, under State permit. 
This importation was the first of a number of his shipments, some of which 
consisted of 500 animals each, made at intervals of four or five years, the last 
being in 1910 or 1911. The number of hares introduced was increased by a 
smaller number imported and liberated on a neighboring estate. The high 
mortality during transportation made the expense of introduction very great, 
amounting to about $10 a head. 
An earlier importation seems to have been made at Jobstown, N. J., in 1888, 
but without the impetus of numbers given at Millbrook, N. Y. This importation 
is reported to have consisted of the brown hare from England (Lepus europaeus 
occidentalis de Winton). An importation is also reported at Bethlehem, Pa., 
and another at White Plains, N. Y. Information is lacking concerning the 
source of the hares liberated at these places. An account of the spread of 
European hares in Ontario, Canada, after being introduced on an estate near 
Brantford, Ont., has also been received. 
DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE 
During the 30 or more years that have elapsed since the European hare first 
appeared in this country, the increase and spread has been slow but steady. 
The accompanying map (fig. 1) shows the distribution of the species in the 
United States as far as reported. The present range might be roughly described 
as extending from southern Vermont to central New Jersey and eastward 20 or 
30 miles into Connecticut and Massachusetts, and to a limited extent westward 
across the Hudson and Delaware Rivers into extreme eastern Pennsylvania. 
Reports that are considered reliable have been used in mapping this distribution, 
but in some cases specimens are not available. 
4 Barrett-Hamilton, Q. E. H. a history of British mammals. 1: 285-289. London. 1912. 
