nearly within gunshot, until it is thoroughly scared by his perseverance, when it
makes off. It is not difficult to get within bow-shot of it, by walking round it, and
gradually contracting the circle—a method much practised by the Indians.. In
the late boat-voyage along the northern coast, we landed on a rocky islet, off
Cape Parry, which, though not above three hundred yards in diameter, was
tenanted by a solitary alpine hare. The whole party went in pursuit of this poor
animal; but it availed itself so skilfully of the shelter of the rocksr and retreated
with so much cunning and activity from stone to stone, that none of us could,
obtain a shot at it, although it never was able to conceal itself from our search for
more than a minute or two at a time.
The winter fur of the Polar Hare is of a snow-white colour to the roots, and.is
more dense, and of a finer quality than that of the American hare. It bears a
close resemblance to swan-down. The fur is in prime order in latitude 6'5°, about
the end of October, and begins towards the end of April to be replaced by the
summer coat, which is more or less coloured. I have killed individual^ at the
time they were losing their winter fur, and have seen others exhibiting dark
colours later in the season, but have not been able to obtain a full-grown summer
specimen. Fabricius informs us that, in Greenland, the Polar Hares retain their
white colour all the summer. Captain Sabine states, that some full-grown specimens,
killed on Melville Island (lat. 75°), in the height of summer, had' the hair
of the back and sides of a grayish-brown colour towards the points, but the mass
of fur beneath still remained white; the face and front of the ears were of a
deeper gray. The fur was interspersed' with long solitary hairs, which, in many
individuals, were banded with brown and white in the middle of summer. The
weight of a full-grown Polar Hare varies, according to its condition, from 7 to 141bs.,,
and a similar variation, in the weight of the common British hare, is known to
exist. Its flesh is whitish, and well flavoured, being greatly superior to that of
the American Bare; and also much more juicy than the alpine or varying hare of
Scotland'.
According to Indian information, the Polar Hare brings forth once in the*year,
and1 from two to four young at a time. Fabricius says that, in Greenland, they
prodhce eight young at a birth, in the month of June : they pair in April.
d e s c r i p t i o n
Of a full-grown winter specimen, from Bear Lake.
Size. Equal to. that of the. largest English hare, superior, to. that of the varying, or Alpine
hare of Scotland. Scull one-third larger than, that of the:American- hare; with a larger
orbital cavity, and smaller space for containing the brain. The breadth of the frontal bone
or distance between the orbits is not greater than in thé smaller scull of the American hare.
The margins'of the orbits project considerably, so as to produce a well-marked depression in
thé anterior part »of the frontal bone, included between them.
Dental formula, incisors f , canines £3, grinders f=j, = 28>
Incisors white, four-sided. Upper ones with a conspicuous but rather shallow groove near
their inner margins anteriorly, and another groove on their sides. The posterior or supplemental
upper incisors have two grooves on their posterior faces, which give them a prismatical
,form. The cutting edges of the incisors are nearly even.
The fu r is every where entirely white, except on the tips of the ears, which are brownish-
black. The back and margins of the ears are covered with a close coat of hair, which is
white to the roots. The hairs lining the interior of the ear are white and moderately long,
but they are not so close as to prevent the dark* skin from partially appearing. The hair on
the tips of the ears is mostly brownish-black to its *base, a little of it only, where it adjoins to
the white fur, shewing a wood-brown colour near its roots. The whiskers in some specimens
are entirely white, in others partially black.. The fur on the back is remarkably close and
fine, that on the belly is longer and not quite so close. The extremities are covered with a
smooth coat of hair of a pure white colour to the roots. The brush on the soles has a soiled
yellowish-white colour. The fore-toes are short, and their claws are of a dark-brownish horn
colour, and are very long and Considerably curved, but their general shape nearly resembles
that of the claws of the common hare. They are more curved and blunter than the claws
of the American hare, and project much further beyond the fur. The hind-claws are rather
broader than the fore-ones, dark at the roots and pale at the tips. The tail is covered with
pretty long fur, woolly at the roots, and of a purè white colour its whole length. The irides
are of a honey-yellow colour. The skin of the polar-hare, when in full winter dress, is so
tender, that it is difficult to take it off without tearing it.
D im e n s io n s .
.Inches. Unes.
Length of the head and body
„ from the nose to the point of themid-
22 6
dle daw, when the hind leg is stretched out
„ of the head, from the occipital spine
to the end of the nose, measured over the
30 6
forehead, and pressing down the fur
of the head, measured with a pair of
5 6
calliper compasses
,, of the ears, induding the fur, mea-
4 6
. sured posteriorly ’. . . 4 6
' „ the ears, from rictus to apex 3 6
5' j} black fur at the tip of the ear 0 6
. tail (vertebrae) ’. . 1 6
^ j „ tail, induding the fur 3 6
,, whiskers . ». 3 6
In ch e s. Dines.
Fore Extremities.
Length from wrist joint to point of the middle
daw . . 0 3 4
„ ■ of middle toe and claw . 1 10
„ the middle fore-claw . 1 0
Hind Extremities.
,, from the heel to the base of the middie
toe . . • •• • ^ 0
,, of middle toe and claw •• 2 6
„ from the heel to the end of the middle
daw . • • ” ® 6
of the scull, from the insertion of the
incisors to the occipital crest, measured by
callipers . • . . 3 10