Which is very commonly, but very improperly called rabbit Indeed the hare and rabbit so much resemble each other, that we do not wonder that mere empirical observers should have been puzzled in assigning distinguishing marks of difference between them. There are many circumstances in which they differ, in reference to their reproductive system for example, which are sufficient to constitute them of very distinct species. Thus, the nest of the hare is open, constructed without care, and destitute of a lining of fur. The nest of a rabbit is concealed in a hole of the earth, constructed of dried plants, and lined with fur, which is pulled from its own body. The young of the hare, at birth, have their eyes and ears perfect, their legs in a condition for run-ning, and their bodies covered with fur. The young of the rabbit at birth, have their eyes and ears closed, are unable to travel, and are naked. The maternal duties of the hare are few in number, and consist in licking the young dry at first, and supplying them regularly with food. Those of the rabbit are more numerous, and consist of the additional duty of keeping the young in a state of suitable cleanliness and warmth. "The circumstances attending the birth of a hare, are analogous," says Dr. Flefhing, "to those of a horse, while those of a rabbit more nearly resemble the Fox,"

The American hare is found throughout this country to as far north as the vicinity of Carlton House, in the Hudson's Bay country. In summer the pelage is dark brown on the upper part of the head, a lighter brown on the sides, and of an ash-colour below. The ears are wide and edged with white, tipped with brown, and very dark on their back parts; their sides approach to an ash-colour. The inside of the neck is slightly ferruginous; the belly, and the tail is small, dark above, and -white below, having the inferior surface turned up. The hind legs are covered with more white than dark hairs, and both fore and hind feet have sharp-pointed, narrow, and nearly straight nails. In winter, the pe1age is nearly twice the length of what it is in summer, and is altogether, or very nearly white. The weight of the animal is about seven pounds. It is about fourteen inches in length. The hind legs are ten inches long, by which circumstance it is most strongly distinguished, in external appearance, from the common rabbit of Europe.

The American hare never burrows in the ground like the common European rabbit. But in its movements it closely resembles the common hare of Europe, bounding along with great celerity, and, when pursued, resorts to the artifices of doubling so well known to be used by the latter animal. It is not hunted, however, in this country as in Europe, but is generally roused by a dog, and shot, or is caught in various snares. or traps.

The kind provisions of nature for the preservation of the leporine race, are many and wonderful, and afford a striking proof, among thousands which might be produced, of that system of compensations, that balancing of perfections and defects, that equalizing of the quantity of life and destruction, on which the continued existence of the respective tribes of animals depends. If the hare is, on the one hand, exposed to the attacks of almost every beast of prey, it is, on the other, abundantly fruitful. The American hare breeds several times during the year, and in the Southern States, even during the winter months, having from two to four or six at a litter. If often pursued, the hare is also furnished with various sources of evasion and escape. Its ears are so contrived, as to convey even remote sounds from behind: the eyes are so situated as to enable it, when at rest on its seat, to observe without difficulty, and even without much motion of the head, a whole circle; and, though it sees imperfectly in a straight line forwards, it can direct its vision to whatever thteatens it in the way of pursuit; and the eyes are never wholly closed during sleep. From the extraordinary muscularity of its limbs, it can sustain the fleetness of its course for a considerable time, while the greater length of the hinder legs gives it such a decided advantage in ascending, that, when started, it always makes to the rising ground. Its habitual timidity, and perpetual apprehension of danger preserves it lean, and in a condition the best adapted to profit by that speed which forms its security. The thick hairy protection of its feet also gives it, in dry or frosty weather, an advantage over the dog which pursues it Its near approach in colour to the soil often conceals it from the sight of man, and predacious animals; and in the northern countries, its fur becoming white, as we said before, the animal can scarcely be distinguished from the surrounding snow. As if conscious of its re-semblance to the earth on which it treads, it has often been known when closely pursued by the hounds, to squat behind a clod, and suffer the dogs to run over it, which they no sooner do, than it instantly takes a contrary direction, and thus deceives them. As it possesses the sense of smell in a pre-eminent degree, -it is often aware of the presence of an enemy before it can ascertain its danger by the sight. The doublings of its course are familiar to every European sportsman; and though in some respects its sagacity seems to be at fault, especially in exhausting its strength in the early part of the chase, and in returning to its resting-place by the same paths, it has been frequently observed to have recourse to stratagems, which, in the human being, would bespeak not only presence of mind, but a prompt and practical application of the reasoning faculties.

During the daytime the bare remains crouched within its form, which is a mere space of the size of the animal, upon the surface of the ground, cleared of grass, and sheltered by some overreaching plant; or else its habitation is in the hollowed trunk of a tree, or under a collection of stones. It is commonly at the earliest dawn, while the dew-drops still glitter on the herbage, or when the fresh verdure is concealed beneath a mantle of glistening frost, says Dr. Godman, that the timorous hare ventures forth in quest of food, or courses undisturbed over the plains. Occasionally during the day, in retired and little frequented parts of the country, an individual is seen to scud from the path, where it has been basking in the sun; but the best time for studying the habits of the animal is during moonlight nights, when the hare is to be seen sporting with its companions in unrestrained gambols, frisking with delighted eagerness around its mate, or busily engaged in cropping its food. On such occasions, the turnip and cabbage fields suffer severely, where these animals are numerous, though in general they are not productive of serious injury. However, when food is scarce they do much mischief to the farmers, by destroying the bark oft the young trees in the nurseries, and by cutting-valuable plants.

Although not very susceptible of strong attachment, the hare is naturally of a gentle disposition, and, when taken young, may be tamed without much difficulty. Shy and timid as it undoubtedly is in its native haunts, yet when domesticated it often assumes a forward and even petulant demeanour. In respect of temper and talent, however, a very marked diversity obtains among different individuals, a fact not sufficiently attended to in the moral history of animals, without excepting mankind, and which has been fairly exemplified by Cowper, in his account of three hares which he watched himself.

The flesh of the American hare, though of a dark colour, is much esteemed as an article of food. During the summer season they are lean and tough, and in many situations they are infested by a species of oestrus, which lays its eggs in their skins, producing worms of considerable size. But in the autumnal season, and especially after the commencement of the frost,-when the wild berries are ripe, they become very fat, and are a delicious article of food. In the north, during winter, they feed on twigs and buds of the pine and fur, and are fit for the table throughout the season. The Indians eat the contents of their stomachs, notwithstanding the food is such as we have just mentioned. The flesh of the hare was reckoned a great delicacy among the Romans, and, in Martial's estimation was superior to that of all other quadrupeds. From an allusion in the eighth satire of his second book, we may infer that Horace regarded the wing as the part in highest request among his. countrymen.

Et leporum avulsos, ut multo suavius, armos, Quam si com lumbis qus edit --------the wings of hares, for so, it seems

No man of luxury the back esteems.

Though no animal can appear less formidable or repulsive to a human being than a timid leveret, it is somewhat remarkable that the brave Duc D'Eperaon, from one of those constitutional antipathies for which it is so difficult to account, always fainted at the sight of one.

There are probably four species, belonging to the genus Lepus, which are natives of North America, viz.

1. The American hare, Lepus Americanus; L. God-man's Am. Nat Hist. vol. ii. page 157.

2. The Polar hare, L. Glacialis; Sabin. Godman, page 163.

3. The Virginia hare, L. Virginianus; Harlan. Faun. Americ. pages 196 and 310.

4 The Varying hare, L. Variabilis; Pallas.