144 THE AMEEICAN HARE. 



danger it frequently falls into another, namely, into 

 the mouth of an alligator. Sometimes it makes its 

 home beneath the overhanging roots of trees that grow 

 by the water-side where there is a hollow, caused by the 

 action of the waters amongst the roots. In such cases 

 it will generally swim to its home, so as to leave no clue 

 to its hiding place. A swamp hare has been known to 

 swim three times across a wide river when pursued by 

 the dogs, and finally escape beneath one of these hollow 

 roots. 



This hare breeds at about the same times and seasons 

 as other hares ; making for its young a nest of dried 

 grass or leaves, on the top of some mound or hillock in 

 the swamp. It is not found very far north, but is 

 numerous in Western Alabama, the lower part of 

 Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Besides these species, 

 there are two or three others ; but they are small in 

 size and afford poor sport compared with the great 

 Texan hare and the swamp hare. 



None of these Southern hares are fit for food in the 

 summer. A small red bug, so small as to be almost 

 invisible, attacks them under the fore-arms and thio-hs. 

 and produces sores, which soon become fly-blown. 

 Maggots are then produced and, very often, the hare is 

 eaten up alive. 



