140 THE AMERICAN HAEE. 



This great hare has only a limited range, being only 

 found in the western parts of Texas and the southern 

 parts of New Mexico. It is so fleet of foot that, unless 

 shot or chased by the fleetest of greyhounds, it is certain 

 to escape. 



All hares have much the same habits ; and the great 

 hare of Texas much resembles in its manners and cus- 

 toms the hares with which English sportsmen are ac- 

 quainted ; but it seems to resemble its namesake, the 

 jackass, not only in length of ears, but in scarcity of 

 sense. It has just sufficient brains to make it the 

 greatest coward in all the animal kingdom. "When once 

 alarmed it runs as wildly as the deer, and as swiftly, 

 without heedino' what course it takes. One of these 

 hares, while running from a greyhound, came in colli-'' 

 sion with another dogf. The shock was so oTeat that 

 both animals were killed. 



The flesh of the jackass-rabbit is fine eating; but as 

 the thorough hunters of the woods and prairies think 

 it a waste of lead to shoot them, they are left to the 

 tender mercies of sporting Britishers and green Yan- 

 kees from northern cities, where game is not so abun- 

 dant. The regular backwood's-man seldom condescends 

 to fire at anything less than a deer, unless he should, by 

 chance, have an opportunity of killing a very fine 

 turkey. 



The Indians catch them much after the same manner 

 as English poachers, by means of snares set in the 



