96 THE SAGE-HARE. 
must be the droppings of a large flock of sheep 
covering the ground thickly, just as though the 
animals had been folded. I had barely time to 
think what animal could be so abundant, when 
the dogs, tired as they were, started two or 
three large hares from under the wild-sage 
bushes. We saw numbers of them, and shot 
several; but the flesh tasted so strongly of the 
wild-sage, on which these hares mainly sub- 
sist, that eating it was an impossibility. The 
Prairie Hare (Lepus campestris) appears entirely 
confined to these sandy desert-lands, being 
replaced by the Red Hare (L. Washingtoni) in 
the timbered districts. 
The fur of the Prairie Hare is long and silky, 
and exactly the colour of the sand and dead leaves 
under the bushes where they make their ‘ forms; 
unless they move, it is impossible to distinguish 
them, although looking down on their backs. 
The ears are quite a fifth longer than the head. 
In summer, the colour of the back, sides, throat, 
and limbs is grey, varied with yellow and brown 
markings; tail quite white, above and below; ears 
yellow on the outside, but tipped with black, 
thinly covered inside with long white hairs; belly 
quite white. In winter the hairs change to a 
pure white ; the colouring-matter is absorbed, and 
