LEPUS. 179 
In the limits of its rather extensive range it presents a considerable variation in colour, 
the more northern race, the “ var. fexianus” of Mr. Allen, having the ears broadly 
tipped with black; whereas in the typical or southern form, “ var. cailotis,” they are 
almost or quite free from black, which is replaced by yellowish or pure white. 
Mr. Allen has shown, however, that this character is quite variable; and I may add that 
black ear-tips are present in one Mexican specimen in the Berlin Museum, though 
totally absent in a second. Besides the difference in the ears, southern specimens may 
usually be recognized by their stronger and more rufous coloration. 
The best account of the habits of the Jackass Hare with which I am acquainted is 
that given by Dr. Elliott Coues in the first volume of the ‘ American Naturalist.’ 
Resembling other Hares in its general manners, it is remarkable for its activity ; “it 
has a long swinging gallop, and performs prodigious leaps, some of them over bushes 
four feet high—now in the air, its feet all drawn together and down-stretched—now on 
the ground, which it touches and rebounds from with marvellous elasticity.” It does 
not burrow, but constructs a “form” in some convenient bush, and apparently breeds 
only in summer, producing as many as s1x young ones at a birth*. 
Hitherto the range of L. callotis has not been traced further south than the State of 
Tehuantepec. 
5. Lepus palustris. 
Lepus palustris, Bachman, J. Ac. Philad. vii. p. 194, pls. xv., xvi. (1837, descr. orig.)'; Baird, Mamm. 
N. Am. p. 615°; Tomes, P. Z.S. 1861, p. 281°; Allen, Mon. N.-Am. Rodent. p, 360 *. 
Conejo of Guatemalans. 
Hab. Norra America, eastern slopes from North Carolina southward 4.—Mexico, 
Mirador (Sartorius, U.S. Nat. Mus.*); GuateMaua, Duefias (Salvin, Mus. Brit.3), 
San Gerdnimo and Coban (Sarg). 
The Marsh-Hare inhabits the low-lying sea-board of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of 
Mexico, from the swamps of North Carolina to Guatemala. Being gifted with but a 
slight portion of the proverbial swiftness of its family, it seeks for protection among the 
thick and tangled brushwood which borders its favourite marshes, taking to the water 
freely when pursued, and even, it is said, swimming from point to point of its own 
accord. Dr. Coues, however, who has carefully observed the manners of the Marsh- 
Hare in North Carolina, thinks that its aquatic habits have been much exaggerated 
by some writers, and that it only takes to the water in cases of emergency. 
In Guatemala, also, Messrs. Godman and Salvin did not observe the Conejo to be 
especially water-haunting in its habits. They tell me, ‘‘ When cochineal was cul- 
tivated at Duefias we used often to find this Hare between the ‘rows of cactus-plants, 
where it came to feed on the vegetation which grows in the cleaned ground with such 
marvellous rapidity in the rainy season. During the months of July, August, and 
* Amer. Naturalist, i. pp. 531-534. ft Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. xiii. pp. 86-93. 
2A 2 
