and outer parts of the legs and thighs are of a lead colour ; the sides, as they approach the
belly, become gradually more white ; the belly,, breast, and inner parts of the legs and thighs
are white, with a light shade of lead colour; the tail is covered with white, soft fur, not quite
so long as on the other parts of the body; the body is covered with a deep, fine, soft, close
fur. The animal assumes these colours from the middle of April to the middle of November;
during the rest of the year it is of a pure white, except the' black and reddish-brown of the ears,
which never changes. In March, a few reddish spots are sometimes mixed with the white on
the head and upper parts of the neck and shoulders. This animal can leap twenty-one feet.
Its food is grass an d herbs, and in winter it feeds much on the bark of aromatic shrubs,
which grow on the plains. These hares are generally found separate, and never associate in
greater numbers than two or three.”
Dr. Godman has given the following account of a specimen belonging to the
Prince of Musignano, which was killed on the Blue Mountains of Pennsylvania.
This species is said to be common throughout the mountainous regions of the
United States; but its identity with the Lepus Virginianus of Harlan has not
been ascertained, and it may be observed, that nothing is said in Dr. Godman’s
description respecting the fawn-coloured margins of the ear, which distinguish
the Lepus Virginianus, in its winter dress, from the Polar hare.
“ In its summer dress the general- colour of this hare is a light reddish-brown, which is
lighter on the breast and head, becoming darker from the superior parts of the shoulders to
the posterior parts of the body. The hairs are coloured in the following manner :—-They are
plumbeous at the base, then light.yellow, then , dusky, then reddish-brown, and finally, black
at tip. The under jaw is white, and this colour extends backwards until opposite the
bases of the ears. The belly and legs are white, faintly tinged with light reddish-brown ; the
tail is whitish, which colour is superiorly mingled with bluish or lead colour. The ears are
externally bluish-white, and darker at the tip ; internally they are of a faint reddish-white.
“ In winter dress the general colour is pure white, the fur being long, soft, fine, and in
greatest quantity upon the breast. The hairs are. plumbeous at the base, then reddish, and
at tip of a snowy whiteness. The ears are slightly tipped with dark lead colour, and
edged within by brown and white hairs intermixed. The whiskers are entirely white or black
at the base and white at tip. The feet are thickly clothed with hair, that conceals the
slightly-curved nails, which are long and narrow at the base.”
Dimensions
Of a recent specimen.
Feet. Inches. Feet. Inches.
Total length . . 2 7 * Length of fore-arm . 0 4
Height to top of fore-shoulder • 0 10 • „ fore-paw . 0 2 |
,, top of thigh . 1 2 „ the thigh . . . 0 6
Length of head . 0 4 „ hind-foot 0 6
,, the ears . 0 4 ,, the tail * . 0 H
Distance from eyes to the end of the nose 0