Prairie-hare 



GG7 



the Blacktailed Jack of Texas, is at a minimum in the present 

 species. I suppose because all its bounds are of the nature of 

 spy-hops. 



Several times while watching the above named ill-matched 

 pair I have had good opportunities of comparing the gaits of 

 the two species. The Whitetail runs like a Deer, with high, 



0/k-^ft.i^- 



Sjvy-'io/' 



Fig. i8o — Lines to illustrate the actions of Whitetail and I'lacktail Jack-rabbits runninjj 



long bounds; the Blacktail lower, with shorter, quicker 

 bounds, and much more regularly punctuated with a spy-hop. 

 Their courses may be thus suggested by the lines in the ac- 

 companying diagram (Fig. i8o). 



The Prairie-hare does not love the water, yet takes to it- swim 

 fearlessly when it must, and proves a strong swimmer, tor the 

 good reason that it can progress by the same motions as those 

 which enable it to move on land. 



Throughout the Yakima Valley of Washington I was told 

 that the Whitetailed Jack never hesitated to plunge into any 

 water that barred its path if too broad to be overleaped. It 

 always manages, however, to shorten the swim considerably 

 by leaping as far as possible at the start. 



An acquatic exploit by this Hare has been described to 

 me by an eye-witness. Colonel L. L. Hawkins, of Portland, Ore.: 



In the late fall of 1880, he was at work with a gang on the 

 Snake River, 60 miles above its junction with the Columbia. 

 He and his men stopped at a long, narrow island. It was about 

 500 yards in length, and 150 yards across; this widest part was 

 covered with scrub; the rest was a long, bare pomt. As they 

 landed they saw a big Whitetailed Jack-rabbit jump into cover. 



