256 'ZOOLOGY. 



family, is the singular sewellel or showt'l (Haplodon rufus, 

 Fig. 294) of the mountains of western Oregon and Wash- 

 ington Territory. It is nearly as large as a musk-rat, is 

 nocturnal in its habits and therefore rarely seen, and bur- 

 rows in the earth, feeding on roots. 



The lowest in intelligence are, perhaps, the hares, rep- 

 resented by the common varying hare (Lepus Americanus), 

 of which an interesting variety (L. Bairdii, Fig. 295) lives 

 on the Alpine summits of the Rocky Mountains. The hares 

 are mainly nocturnal in their habits, living concealed by 

 day in shaded places, under fallen trees or in burrows in 

 thickets and swamps as well as forests. Our commonest 

 species is the white hare (Lepus American us), which turns 

 white in December, changing to its summer dress in April. 

 It eats grass and herbage in summer, in winter it gnaws 

 the bark of the willow. The long-eared kinds live in the 

 desert regions of the western plains, those with longest ears 

 in the driest tracts. The gray rabbit or "cotton tail" 

 (Lepus sylvaticus) does not change its fur in winter. In 

 the east, according to Mr. Lockwood (American Natural- 

 ist, 1882), it makes a rude nest by scratching a hole slop- 

 ing slightly downwards into the ground about eighteen 

 inches. " It has a bed made of dry leaves and grass, and 

 on top some fur or hair, which the mother has torn from 

 her own breast. The litter numbers from four to six." 

 There are three or four litters a season. The jackass rab- 

 bit (Lepus callotis) is so called from its large size and enor- 

 mous ears; when running among prickly pears and sage 

 brush it looks absurdly like a diminutive jackass. The 

 name rabbit is only applicable to Lepus cum cuius, the do- 

 mestic burrowing rabbit of Europe, which is gregarious and 

 varies so wonderfully under domestication. All the hares 

 are solitary and make nests or forms of grass on the surface; 

 while rabbits are born blind and naked, hares are said to 

 be born with the eyes open and hairy. The water-hare 

 (L. aquatictis) lives near the water and swims and dives 

 when pursued. In Australia the rabbits introduced there 



