Prairie-hare ()55 



becomes stronger on the forehead and on the ears as seen in 

 front. The back of the ears and their edges in front, the chin, 

 throat, lower cheek, ring around eye, spot on forehead, nape 

 of neck, lower parts generally, together witli the rump and the 

 entire bushy tail, pure white. 



The outer side of each leg is more or less tinged with clear 

 brown. The tip of the ear is jet black inside and out; the 

 bristly pads of the feet are earth-stained nearly black. 



The Prairie-hare is very pale compared with other Hares 

 in summer coat, but its conspicuous label mark is the brushy 

 tail of pure white. As it bounds away, this is held not down- 

 wards like that of a Texas Jack, or against his back like that 

 of a Cottontail or a Snowshoe-rabbit, but straight out behind, 

 or switched from side to side like the white flag of a White- 

 tailed Deer. 



By this and its size the Prairie-hare may be known at all 

 times. 



In winter coat, it is white with black marks on the ears; 

 old and vigorous individuals are pure white, but most young 

 specimens have a sprinkling of gray on head and back all 

 through the winter. 



The three recognized races are: 



campestris Bachman, the typical form. 



townsendi Bachman, a desert form, smaller and paler 



than campestris, and with reduced black spots 



on ears. 

 ierrce Merriam, from the Sierra, the largest of all, a 



pale form with much black on ears. 



Why has the Jack-rabbit developed such ears ? Not for ears 

 hearing I suspect. The plains animals are less in need of 

 hearing gear than the wood creatures. It is very clear what 

 its long legs were made for, and it is possible that the general 

 demand for increased extremities was indiscriminately applied, 

 resulting in a beneficial lengthening of its four important 



