82 VERTEBRATES: MAMMALS. 



Trowbridge's Hare, L. Trowbridgii, Baird, of California, 

 is smaller than Audubon's Hare, and the tail very short. 



The Water Rabbit, L. aquaticus, Bach., of the Lower 

 Mississippi region, is larger than L. sylvaticus, is common 

 in wet grounds, often takes to the water when pursued, 

 and swims and dives with facility. 



The Marsh Rabbit, L. palustris, Bach., of South Caro- 

 lina to Florida, is about the size of L. sylvaticus, the head 

 and incisors disproportionately large, tail very short. 



All the domestic varieties of Rabbits are supposed to 

 have sprung from the European Rabbit, L. cuniculus, 

 Linn., which lives in troops, and constructs burrows. 



The Genus Lagomys Pikas is characterized by the 

 molars, which are ^, the short and rounded ears, short 

 hind legs, and the absence of a visible tail. Its mem- 

 bers are confined to the Northern hemisphere, and most- 

 ly to elevated regions. They are all small, the largest 

 not exceeding in size the Guinea Pig. In Siberia they 

 are called Pikas. Only one species is found in North 

 America. 



The Little Chief Hare, L. princeps, Rich., of the South 

 Pass of the Rocky Mountains and northward, is about 

 eight inches in length, and appears in color like a young 

 rabbit, and utters a low bleat. 



SUB-SECTION VIII. 



THE ORDER OF EDENTATA, OR EDENTATES. 



THE Order of Edentata comprises all Mammals which 

 are destitute of incisor teeth, and some members of this 

 order have no teeth. Wagner recognizes three families, 

 Bradypoda or Sloth Family, Effodientia or Armadillo Fam- 

 ily, and Biclaviculata or Monotremata. 



BRADYPODA, OR SLOTH FAMILY. This Family com- 

 prises animals which have canine and molar teeth, an-! 



