22 JACK RABBITS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



ern representative. Whether it should be recognized as a full species 

 or merely a subspecies need not be considered here; but it may be 

 exi)lained that under this name are included all the black-tailed jack 

 rabbits occurring east of the Itocky Mountains and from central Texas 

 northward to Nebraska. 



This hare is found on the Great Plains from eastern Kansas to the 

 Rocky Mountains and western Texas, where its range probably merges 

 into that of Lepus texianus. In some parts of Kansas and in south- 

 eastern Colorado it is very abundant and is killed in large numbers. 

 When full grown it weighs about pounds and is the black-tailed rab- 

 bit most commonly seen in the markets of Eastern cities. 



Its habits are similar to those of other jack rabbits. According to 

 Mr. H. P. Attwater it is sometimes captured when young and kept alive, 

 but is always wild and very pugnacious. It is much used in coursing, 

 and is considered one of the best rabbits for this sport. An interest- 

 ing experiment on its speed was made on the plains of eastern Colorado 

 near Burlington, about 100 miles east of Denver.' Several hares were 

 turned loose after having a drop or two of anise-seed oil rubbed on their 

 feet, and as soon as they were out of sight a pack of five hounds was 

 started in pursuit. The first and second hares were run down in 

 about twenty minutes, but the hounds required nearly two hours to 

 overhaul the third, 'an old black tail.' The writer adds that these 

 rabbits run in circles as a rule. They make a spurt for the first two 

 miles, but then begin to weaken, and if the scent is not lost they are 

 certain to be overtaken by the hounds at last. 



Allen's Jack Rabbit. 



{Lepus alleni Mearns.) 



Allen's Jack Rabbit is the largest and finest of the hares of the South- 

 west. Even at a distance it may be readily distinguished by its gray 

 sides and the white on the hind part of the body. Its length is about 

 254 inches (GdS"^'"); tail, 2f inches (09"""); while the ears measure 

 about 7f inches (195"'"').- The color above is yellowish brown mixed 

 with black, but this area is restricted by the gray of the sides, and in 

 autumn (November) specimens is a beautiful dark steel gray. This 

 species was also described by Dr. E. A. Mearns, in 1890^ from a speci- 

 men collected May 8, 1885, at Rillito Station, on the line of the Southern 

 Pacific Railroad near Tucson, Ariz. 



Allen's Hare is found in tlu; deserts of southern Arizona and Sonora, 

 in the region extending from Phtenix southeastward to the Santa Cat- 

 alina and Santa Rita mountains, and thence south into Mexico almost 

 as far as Guaymas. It has been collected in Sonora at Oputo, on the 



1 Am. Field, XLII, July 21, 1894, p. 53. 



* Average of three specimens, iucluding the type, collected by Dr. Mearns. 



3 Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., II, Feb. 1890, 294-297, 300. 



