THE HARE. 



731 



The Northern Hare, Lcpus Amcrkanus (Plate LX), presents itself 

 in four difl'erent varieties. In winter it is white, the tips of the ears 

 having a narrow black border, in summer it is of a pale yellowish-brown. 

 The species in some of its varieties is found as far south as New Mexico ; 

 it occurs in most parts of the State of New York, and exhibits more of 

 the habits of the English Hare than any of our native species. In the 

 Eastern and Middle States the color undergoes verv slight chano-e. 



The Wood Hare, Lcpus sylvaticus, is also called the Gray Rabbit. 

 It is found throughout the United States and Canada. It is very timid, 

 and does not burrow, but makes a " form." It is very like the Marsh 

 Hare, Lcpus palustris, but the latter has a shorter tail and broader ears, 

 and is of a yellowish-brown color. The Marsh Hare is common in 

 Florida and Mexico in bushy swamps and the borders of creeks. 



Trowbridge's Hare, Lcpus Trowbridgii, is the smallest of our hares ; 

 the tail is rudimentary, the ears are as long as the head. The color is 

 yellowish-brown. It is found east of the Cascade Range, and on the 

 coast from Fort Crook to Cape St. Lucas. 



The Jackass Rabbit, Lcpus calbtis or Tcxiauus (Plate LX), has very 

 large ears, more than one-third longer than the head. A dark-brown 

 stripe is seen on the top of the neck, and a black stripe from the rump 

 extends to the root of the tail, and along its upper surface to the tip. 

 The upper surface of the body is mottled deep buff and black, the throat 

 and belly white, the under side of the neck dull rufous. 



It received its name from the troops in the Mexican War, who found 

 it very good eating, and it formed an important article of provisions for 

 J. W. Audubon during his travels in Mexico. It inhabits the southern 

 parts of New Mexico, the western parts of Texas, and the elevated lands 

 westward of the ticrra calicntc or coast lands of Mexico. On the Pacific 

 coast it is replaced by the California Hare. 



Till it was better known, this hare was described as enormously 

 large, and equal in size to a fox. A fine large specimen, however, only 

 measures about one foot nine inches in length. 



AFRICAN HARES. 



The species are distinguished by their diminutive size and extremely 

 long ears. They are of a sandy color, and live in the deserts or their 

 neighborhood. 



