THE AQUATIC HARE. 



191 



My introduction to this animal I will relate. A little be- 

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

 stand upon a bridge crossing a slough in the southern por- 

 tion 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 impa- 

 tiently 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, 



i 



MUSQUASH, OR AMERICAN MUSK-RATS. 



well hid in the flags, stealthily stole along the margin of 

 the water, to endeavor 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, instead of a 

 rat, I found it to be a hare. I could scarcely believe my 

 senses, but seeing is believing. Of course I thought that 

 the poor creature had been driven to water to avoid a foe, 

 but before many days I shot several, and all in similar 



