480 



THE KANGAROO HARE. 



tin? tail of the true Kangaroos, which, when they are moving slowly and leisurely along, 

 are accustomed to support the body on the tail, and to swing the hinder legs forward like 

 a man swinging himself upon crutches. 



CONSIDERABLY larger than the preceding animal, the KANGAROO HARE may at once be 

 distinguished from it by the hair-covered muzzle which is a distinguishing mark of the 

 genus Lagorchestes. 



The color of the coat is very like that of the common hare, but the fur is short, 

 rather hard, and slightly curled. The upper parts of the body are a mixture of black and 

 cream, the sides are tinged with a yellow hue, and the under parts are a grayish-white. 

 The skin is white. There is much variety in the tinting of different specimens of this 

 animal, some being of a much redder hue than others. The fore-legs are black, and the 

 fore-feet are variegated with black and white, the hinder feet being of a brownish-white. 

 A buff-colored ring surrounds the eye, and the back of the neck is washed with yellow. 

 It sometimes happens that a light rust-color takes the place of the buff. The tail is of 

 a very pale brownish-gray. 



KANGAROO HARE. Lagorchestes Leporoides. 



The Kangaroo Hare inhabits the Liverpool Plains and the greater part of the interior 

 of Australia, to which region it seems to be limited, seldom, if ever, being seen nearer the 

 sea. It has many hare-like traits of character, such as squatting closely to the ground in 

 a "form," and then sitting, in hopes of eluding notice, until it is roused to active exertion 

 by actual contact. When it once takes to flight, it runs with amazing celerity, and 

 doubles before the hounds in admirable style, not unfrequently making good its escape in 

 the opposite directions by a well-executed " double." 



Mr. Gould relates a curious incident that occurred to him while he was engaged in the 

 pursuit of a Kangaroo Hare, attended by two dogs. The hounds had pressed the animal 

 closely, when it doubled before them, retraced its course at full speed, making directly for 

 Mr. Gould, who was following up his dogs. The animal came within twenty yards 

 without seeing him, and then, instead of turning aside, leaped clear over his head. 



The total length of this animal is about two feet, the tail occupying about thirteen 

 inches. The Kangaroo Hare is not able to dig after the manner of many of the 

 preceding animals. 



