86 NEIGHBORS WITH CLAWS AND HOOFS, 



where their natural enemies did not exist. They multi- 

 plied so fast that they threatened to devour the entire 

 crops of the country. They were caught in traps by the 

 thousand, but their numbers did not sensibly diminish, 

 until multitudes of dogs, cats, and ferrets, wild and tame, 

 were let loose upon them. 



5. The hare does not live in communities like the rab- 

 bit, but leads a solitary life. His home is in the open fields, 

 away from bush, copse, or hedge, which may be used as a 

 possible hiding-place for a foe. Here he sits, with his 

 legs folded under him, and the grass gradually accommo- 

 dates itself to the shape of his body, making his " form." 

 In winter the snow covers him and keeps him from freez- 

 ing. Here, away as far as possible from his enemies, he 

 stays, venturing out only to get food, and keeping his 

 large ears wide open for the least shadow of a sound. 



6. In America we have none of the true burrowing 

 rabbits. All American rabbits are really hares, living 

 solitary lives and having homes in grassy " forms," or in 

 crevices among rocks and logs. The common rabbit is 

 small, gray, timid, and wild. It is never tamed and made 

 into a household pet like its European cousin. It multi- 

 plies rapidly, but it is caught and eaten by its enemies 

 with equal rapidity ; so it just about holds its own. 



Y. Dr. Coues says : " The prairies of the West fur- 

 nish several species of hares of great size, with very 

 long legs and extravagant ears. All of these are indis- 

 criminately known, in the vernacular of the regions they 

 respectively inhabit, as i jack - rabbits,' or 'jackass -rab- 

 bits,' in contradistinction from the several kinds of small- 

 er, shorter - eared and shorter-legged species commonly 

 called 'cotton-tails,' or ' sage - rabbits.' The Northern 

 species is distinguished, among other things, by having 

 the top of the tail white, or nearly so, like its under sur- 



