Prairie-hare 661 



have proved a similar habit in the Jack-rabbit of Kansas. 

 So that a small range is the family rule. 



This Hare is not at all migratory. At most it changes its no\-mi- 

 range in winter to adjoining places that are warmer or better ^^'^^^ 

 supplied with food. 



"Nor is the Prairie-hare in the least gregarious [says socia- 

 Coues ']. I have never seen nor heard of several together, and "^^^^ 

 indeed it is rare to find even two together at any season what- 

 ever. It is one of the most solitary animals with which I have 

 become acquainted. * * * I have never found any kind of 

 locality even, which, presenting special attractions, might 

 invite many Hares together." 



Lewis and Clark recorded^' one hundred years ago that 

 these Hare "are generally found separate, and are never seen 

 to associate in greater numbers than two or three." 



In noting the Hare's methods of intercommunication we com- 

 must not forget its uniform, so distinctive with its blazon- tion 

 ment of markings black and white — markings that plainly 

 advertise to all the world the wearer's identity ; notifying 

 others of the species that this is one of their own kind, and 

 therefore it is needless to flee; or showing the carnivorous foe 

 with equal certainty that this is a Jack-rabbit of winged heels, 

 and therefore it is useless to follow. 



When captured this Hare sometimes utters a loud, coarse 

 squealing; it is not unlike the 'caw, caw, caw' of a crow. 



The Hare of Europe, a close kinsman, has a soft, plaintive 

 call for the young, and the Blacktailed Jack, when fighting with 

 its own kind, utters an angry ' churr churr.' These sounds 

 also are probably used by the Whitetailed Jack. 



Mating apparently takes place in April. It is not known mating 

 whether the species pairs or not; probably it is polygamous, 

 and the male, therefore, is unlikely to take an interest in the 



*Bull. Essex Inst., VII (1875), 1876, pp. 80-81. 

 ' Quoted by Richardson, F. B. A., 1820, I. p. 226. 



