186 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



Bocky Mountains; of the second, to the westward, and 

 upon the plains, verging on the Apache country, in Lower 

 'California. Where the country is sufficiently clear for 

 coursing, doubtlessly good sport could be obtained with 

 greyhounds, as they are remarkably swift and enduring. 

 When among the caporal or wild sage, they have so little 

 dread of man's presence that they will almost permit 

 themselves to be kicked out of their form ; from this cir- 

 cumstance, for shooting them, small shot, say No. 6, can 

 te used to the greatest advantage. 



The aquatic hare is alone found in America, the 

 savannahs of Georgia and South Carolina being its 

 favourite habitat ; Kentucky, Southern Indiana, Illinois, 

 also Tennessee, possess them. I am inclined to believe, 

 however, that they are nowhere sufficiently numerous to 

 make them a special object of pursuit. 



My introduction to this animal I will relate. A little 

 before sunset, on a fine calm evening in March, I took my 

 stand upon a bridge crossing a slough in the southern 

 portion of Illinois, with the hope of killing a few wild 

 ducks. The atmosphere was so clear and still that the 

 "birds were very late in visiting their feeding-ground. 

 While impatiently trying to kill time, I saw something 

 swimming in the water, and supposing it to be a common 

 American musk-rat, and being desirous of a new tobacco- 

 pouch, I, well hid in the flags, stealthily stole along the 

 margin of the water, to endeavour to obtain a closer shot, 

 for the musk-rat requires a tremendous deal of killing. 

 Having knocked over my game, in a few minutes my 

 retriever laid it at my feet ; but imagine my surprise when, 



