THE MUSEUM. 



'53 



1890, by Dr. E. A. Mearns, from a 

 market specimen supposed to have 

 been killed near Independence, Kans. 

 The difference between it and the 

 common Black-tailed Jack Rabbit are 

 only apparent after a careful compari- 

 son of a series of specimens, but Lcpus 

 melanotis is described as having a 

 richer coloring; and shorter ears than 

 its Western representative. Whether 

 it should be recognized as a full spec- 

 ies or merely a subspecies need not be 

 considered here; but it may be e.\- 

 plained that under this name are in- 

 cluded all the black-tailed jack rabbits 

 occurring east of the Rocky mountains 

 and fiom northern Texas to Nebraska. 

 This hare is found on the Great 

 Plains from eastern Kansas to the 

 Rocky Mountains and western Texas, 

 where its range probably merges into 

 that of I.epiis tcxianns. In some parts 

 of Kansas and in south-eastern Colo- 

 rado it is very abundant and is killed 

 in large numbers. When full grown, 

 it weighs about six pounds and is the 

 black-tailed rabbit most commonly 

 seen in the markets of eastern cities. 

 Its habits are similar to those of 

 other jack rabbits. It is much used 

 in coursing, and is consicjered one of 

 the best rabbits for this sport. An in- 

 teresting experiment on its speed was 

 made on the plains of eastern Colorado 

 near Burlington, about 160 miles east 

 of DTiver. Several hares were turned 

 loose after having a drop or two of 

 anise-seed oil rubbed on their feet, 

 and as soon as they were out of sight 

 a pack of five hounds was started in 

 pursuit. The first and second hares 

 were run down in about twenty min- 

 utes, but the hounds required nearly 

 two hours to overhall the third, "an 

 old black tail." The writer adds that 

 these rabbits run in circles as a rule. 

 They make a spurt for the first two 

 miles, but then begin to weaken, and 

 if the scent is not lost they are certain 

 to be overtaken by the hounds at last. 



Allen's Jack Rabbit. 



i l.t'/'ns allcni Mearns. ) 

 Allen's Jack Rabbit is the largest 

 and finest of the hares of the south- 

 west. Even at a distance it may be 

 readily distinguished by its gray sides 

 and the white on the hind part of the 

 body. Its length is about 25^ inches; 

 tail, 2\ inches; while the ears measure 

 about 7\ inches. The color above is 

 yellowish brown mixed with black, but 

 this area is restricted by the gray of 

 the sides, and in autumn (November; 

 specimens is a beautiful dark steel 

 gray. This species was also de cribed 

 by Dr. E. A. Mearns, in 1890, from a 

 specimen collected May 8, 1885, at 

 Rillito Station, on the line of the 

 Southern Pacific Railroad near Tucson, 

 Ariz. 



Allen's Hare is found in the deserts 

 of southern Arizona and Sonora, in 

 the region extending from Phoenix 

 south-eastward to the Santa Catalina 

 and Santa Rita mountains, and thence 

 south into Mexico almost as far as 

 Guaymas. It has been collected in 

 Sonora at Oputo, on the upper Yaqui 

 River, at Magdalena, Hermosillo and 

 Ortiz, and probably ranges over the 

 greater part of the state. Little is 

 known as to the western limits of its 

 range or the injury which it may do to 

 crops when the country becomes more 

 thickly settled. Concerning its hab- 

 its Mr. W. W. Price says: 



"This splendid hare is abundant 

 about Tucson and in lower portions of 

 the desert belt. It is found both on 

 the gravelly hills bordering the Rillito 

 at Fort Lowell and on the immense 

 mesquite and Larrca plains of Tucson. 

 It is somewhat shy, and hard to se- 

 cure, except with a rifle. One rarely 

 comes upon it suddenly. I have never 

 seen it start up with the quick, rapid 

 flight of /,. tcxianus. It has a slow, 

 apparently awkward, gait, but its leaps 

 are long, and it gets over the ground 

 with surprising rapidity. In color and 

 habits it is so very different from any 

 other American hare, the wonder is 

 that it should have so long remained 

 undescribed." 



