Encyclopaedia Metropolitana Volume 21; Or Universal Dictionary of Knowledge Comprising the Twofoldadvantage of a Philosophical and an Alphabetical Arrangement, with Appropriate Engravings (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1845 Excerpt: ...of Baffin's Bay, and on the barren grounds at the Northern extremity of America; it does not frequent the woods, though frequently found near the small clumps of piues on the barren grounds. It does not burrow, but shelters itself among large stones or in the crevices of rocks, and is commonly found by the sides of hills, where the wind prevents the snow lodging deeply, so that it can procure the berries of the arbutus, bark of willows, or leaves of the Labrador Teaplant; their fondness for which is such, that Captain Lyon, in his Journal, mentions they would come across the ice to the ships, for the tealeaves which had been thrown away by the sailors. It is not a very timid animal, for when approached it will run a short distance, squat, run again, and so on till at last it makes off. The Indians often take it by traversing in a circle around it, and gradually nearing till within bowshot. This species has often been confounded with the Prairie Hare, but in that the fawn-colour of the ears never changes even in Winter. L. Virginianus, Harlan; Varying Hare, Lewis and Clark; Prairie Hare, Richardson. Rather less than the last; it is not well known to Naturalists, although the Hudson's Bay settlers are very well acquainted with it. Mr. Drummond killed one in the month of September on the banks of the Saskatchewan, and did not think there was any difference between it and the Common English Hare. According to Lewis and Clark, in the Summer the upper parts, shoulders, outsider of the thighs and legs, are of a lead-colour, the under parts and insides of the legs white, with a leaden shade gradually deepening from the sides to the back; tail white; the ears edged broadly in front with fawn-colour, and narrowly on the base of the posterior margin, and these hairs b...