614 



(J. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



inclining to white ; ears internally clothed with yellow hairs, becoming almost rufous at the 

 point ; the back of the ear bright rusty yellow, like the back of the neck, except the apex, 

 which has a distinct though smallish black patch, with a black line running down the hinder 

 margin ; the extreme edge of the ear rufous yellow ; tail pencilled with white and dirty yellow 

 below. Hairs on the back pale gray at root, then pale brownish yellow, then black, then a 

 subterminal broad brown-yellow ring, and a black tip. On the abdomen, hairs white, with a 

 very indistinct trace of gray next the skin. Length to root of tail, IT inches ; to ear, 3.60 ; of 

 ear, 3.25 ; width of ear, 2.25 ; length of hind feet, 4.00 ; of tail, including fur, 3.00. 



I have before me eight specimens of Lepus aquaticus from various localities in Louisiana and 

 Mississippi, and all agreeing very well in character. In all these the abdomen and under sur 

 face of the tail are pure white ; the interior of the ear is hoary gray, (not yellow,) becoming 

 yellowish brown towards the exterior ; the back of the ear is dusky, with a tinge of hoary 

 plumbeous ; a small patch of hoary near the base behind. There is a faint dusky edge to the 

 tip of the ear on the dorsal surface, but nothing like a black patch ; nor is there a black line 

 running down the hinder margin. The bristle hairs of the back are black, with one annula- 

 tion of yellowish brown, not two. The hairs on the abdomen are grayish plumbeous for their 

 basal half, instead of nearly pure white to the roots. The ears are considerably shorter than 

 the head. For these reasons, therefore, I have little hesitation in separating L. douglassi No. 

 1 from L. aquaticus, although I do not know where to refer the first named species. Its locality 

 is supposed to be in Texas. 



This species and the next have the striking peculiarity of living near the water in swampy 

 or marshy places, and of swimming and diving without hesitation when pursued. Full 

 accounts of their habits, in this and other respects, will be found in the papers by Dr. Bach- 

 man, and in the work on the Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America. 



The Lepus aquaticus appears to be most abundant in the swampy tracts bordering the Missis 

 sippi river, in Louisiana and Mississippi. Mr. Kennicott mentions a " swamp rabbit " as 

 occurring in the wet grounds of New Madrid, Missouri, which, if this species, as is quite 

 probable, would give it a considerable range to the north. There is some doubt of its being 

 found in the southern part of Texae. It has not yet been found in the southeastern States. 



List of specimens. 



1 The tibia measures 4.50 ; the longest bind claw, .58. 



