Still another observation was made by Mr. Walter W. Dalquest of the Department of Zoology, University of Washington. After examining study skins of the varying hares collected in the park, Mr. Dalquest made the following comments in a letter addressed to the park naturalist (April, 1939).
“The snowshoe hares of the entire Western Cascade region are a very interesting but mixed up group. I should refer all three of your specimens to Lepus americanus washingtonii plus cascadensis.
“The summer specimen from Longmire seems to be typical washingtonii in color and skull. The white winter specimen seems to be typical cascadensis while the very dark specimen (still in winter coat) represents an interesting condition found only in the Western Cascades, in which the specimens are darker than any other forms of Lepus americanus I have ever seen. This character is well represented in a large series from Skykomish, Washington, in which the winter coat varies from pure white to almost black.”
From these observations it would appear that there is a marked variation in the winter coloration of Lepus americanus washingtonii, and further that another subspecies of varying hare, Lepus americanus cascadensis, is found in the park.
The Washington varying hare is not abundant in the park, having been recorded only from the southwestern section, from the park boundary to an elevation of about 3,000 feet, rarely higher.
It occurs on the western slope of the Cascades to the coast in Washington, and northward into British Columbia.
The Cascade varying hare, Lepus americanus cascadensis Nelson, is about the same size as the Washington varying hare. In summer it is a dark, rusty brown, reddish along the back, darker on the rump; white in winter.
This hare apparently occurs most frequently in the southwestern part of the park also, although tracks observed in winter at Yakima Park may have been those of this species. Its range undoubtedly overlaps that of the Washington varying hare, but it seems probable that in general it is found at the higher elevations, 3,000 to 5,000 feet.
The distribution of this species, within its altitudinal range, is about the same as that of the Washington varying hare.
Specimens in park collection: Washington varying hare, RNP-57, RNP-99, and a mounted specimen; Cascade varying hare, RNP-98; Longmire Museum, Park Headquarters.
From the foregoing data, it is apparent that positive field identification of either species is impossible in most instances. If a brown hare is observed in winter (mid-October to mid-April) it may be identified with reasonable accuracy as the Washington varying hare. However, if the hare is white, it may be either species, particularly if its habitat is near the elevation of overlapping distribution, 3,000 feet. Since the summer pelage of both species is similar, it is not possible to differentiate during that season. In general the observer may expect to find the Washington varying hare at 3,000 feet or lower, the Cascade varying hare at 3,000 feet or higher. That such identification can not be considered infallible, however, is demonstrated by a brown specimen collected near Reflection Lake, elevation 4,800 feet, in February, and identified as the Washington varying hare.