234 BULLETIN NO. VII. 



Lepus campestris BACHMAN, Journ. Acad., Nat. Sci Phil., vii, 1837, 349; 



viii, 1839, 80. 



WATERHOUSE, Nat. H. Mam., ii, 1848, 127. 

 GIEBEL, Saugethiere, 1855, 449. 

 BAIRD, Mam. N. A., 1857, 585. 

 NEWBERRY, Pac. R. R. Rep., vi, iv, 1857, 62. 

 COOPER, ibid., xii, iii, 1860, 104. 

 SUCKLEY, ibid., xii, iii, 1860, 131. 

 MAXIMILIAN, Wiegm. Arch., 1861, Bd. i, 145. 

 HAYDEN, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. Phila., xii, 1862. 

 GRAY, Ann. and Mag. 1ST. H., 3d series, xx, 1867. 

 ALLEN, Proc. Best. Soc. N. H., viii, 1875, 433. 

 ALLEN, Bull. Essex Inst., vi, 1874. 

 COUES, ibid., vii, 1875, p. 73; - - U. S. Geog. Surv. W. 



100 Mer., vol. v., p. 127. 

 ALLEN, Monographs N. A., Rodentia, ii, U. S. Geol. Surv. 



Terr., vol. xi, 1877. 

 Lepus townsendi BACHMAN, Journ. Acad. N. S. Phila. viii, 1839, 90, 



PL II; Townsend's narrative, 1839. 

 AUD. and BACH., Quad. N. A., i, 1849, 25. 

 COOPER, Am. Nat., ii, 1868, 536. 



This is readily distinguished from any species found in Min- 

 nesota, not only by its great size, but by the great length of 

 ears and tail, which latter is white above and below. It is 

 much larger than the varying hare and about equals the North- 

 ern L. timidus. It is universally called jack-rabbit. The 

 prairie hare is a denizen of the northern part of the plains, 

 claiming kin with the sage-bush and rattle-snake. Its habitat 

 extends from the plains of the Saskatchewan to middle Kan- 

 sas and Utah. It occurs in Northern California, and Western 

 Minnesota. The species was first described by Lewis and 

 Clarke in 1814, but received its name from Bachman in 1837, 

 and has suffered several vicissitudes since. 



In winter this hare is white throughout except the black tips 

 of the ears and traces of yellowish brown upon the top of the 

 head. The fur does not become white to the base, however, 

 the under fur and base of hairs being reddish brown . In sum- 

 mer the upper parts become yellowish gray or brownish 

 There is usually a white fleck in the centre of the forehead 

 and the ears are creamy white below and brown above. 



The following measurements will give an idea of the propor- 

 tions: Length, 20.25; tail, 5.50; forefoot, 2.85; hind foot, 

 5.75; hight of ear, 4.80. A female purchased in Minneapolis 

 market, January 12, 1884, measured: Length, 22; tail to end 

 of hairs, 7; tail to end of vertebraB, 4.25; nose to eye, 2.37; 

 nose to ear, 3.75; ear, 5.25; fore foot, 3; hind foot 8.9. The 



