LONG EARS AND THEIR KIN. 89 



to gather itself for the next leap, but holds its legs stiffly 

 extended, as if to rebound by force of the concussion. 



12. " With a succession of these great jerky leaps the 

 animal makes straight away, having nothing of the dodg- 

 ing about and the scuttling around bushes that marks 

 the course of the little sage-rabbit. I have occasionally 

 had both these kinds of hares running before me at 

 once, and nothing could be more different than their ap- 

 pearance. As the jack gains on a pursuer, or as its fears 

 subside, the springs grow shorter, lower, and weaker, just 

 as a flat stone skipped along the surface of water shortens 

 and lowers in rebounding, till finally the animal squats on 

 its haunches with a last jerk, and comes to a stock-still to 

 look or listen. If entirely reassured, it may then lope on 

 with easy steps till out of sight, or it may squat and dis- 

 appear to which latter end it is only necessary to pin the 

 ears back, when the animal goes out of sight. 



13. " If there is anything more curious about a jack 

 than its legs and the way it runs, it is the ears and the 

 way it hides. If a jack would only keep still and never 

 hoist its ears, it would conduce to longevity ; for these 

 enormous appendages are, curiously, the most conspicuous 

 parts of the whole animal ; and the natural timidity and 

 watchfulness of the jack are so great that the ears almost 

 always stand on the alert. When squatting closely, with 

 ears folded back flat, the animal may be almost stepped 

 on without being noticed, so closely do its colors blend 

 with the surroundings. 



14. " The attitude it assumes when on the watch is 

 highly characteristic. It is drawn up to its full height, 

 sitting on its haunches, with one fore-foot advanced be- 

 fore the other, and the ears parted in opposite directions ; 

 under these circumstances the slightest stimulation of its 

 fears is enough to send it bounding off." 



