132 ZOOLOGY. 



week. In a short ride of an hour's duration I have frequently seen as many as thirty indi- 

 viduals either running about the trail or sitting among the "sage'' bushes on either side. 

 Sometimes three or four might be seen at once. I presumed at the time that they were thus 

 abundant in that immediate vicinity by reason of its proximity to water, the great drought 

 having driven them in from the vast arid sage plains of the surrounding country. I saw none 

 on the left bank of Snake river, and met with no hares after crossing that stream from the 

 opposite side (at the mouth of Boise river) until in going norththwest we had proceeded about 

 seventy miles, when I fell in with a specimen of L. canipesfris at Powder river. 



These hares breed in great numbers on the sage plains south of Boise river, and, I was told, 

 turn white in winter. Concerning this point there may be a mistake, my informants taking the 

 L. campeMris for this species. 



The flesh is rather bitter, as in the case of the sage cock, owing probably to the artemisia 

 upon which it feeds. — S. 



LEPUS CALIFORNICUS, Gray. 



California Hare. 



(Seo chap. 2, p. 104.) 



I saw a largo species of hare at the head of Russian and Eel rivers, California. I also killed 

 one of great size in the mountains, between Salmon and Trinity rivers. There is a bluish hare 

 very common around Humboldt bay, where the Indians make blankets or robes of their skins, 

 by cutting them into strips, which are twisted with ropes, and then stretched on a frame and 

 woven. — G. 



LEPUS ARTEMISIA, Bach. 



Sngc Hare. 



Baied, Gen. Rep. Mammals, IS,")?, C02. 

 Sp. Ch. — Similar to the common rabbit, Lepus sylvaticus, but smaller and grayer. 

 Hah. — Interior of Oregon and Nebraska. 



The little sage hare is very abundant in the open central region of Oregon. It is, as its name 

 implies, especially fond of the vicinity of bushes of the so-called " wild sage," or artemisia, 

 under which it sits motionless and invisible, in almost perfect security. Several specimens 

 were brought to me at Fort Dalles, the skins of which were preserved, and the measurements 

 recorded. 



Measurements of specimen. 



No. 50. March 2. Lengthtoroot of tail, 12 inches; tail to end of vertebraa, 2; of hairs, 2.50. 



No. 35. January 12, 1855. Under surface of tail, I am told, by Indians is white; that of this 

 specimen was lost. At the time this individual was brought to me I was told that the species 

 does not turn white in winter. Name in dialect of the Wascos, La-lek. 



Length from nose to root of tail 15 inches, lines. 



Heel to point of longest nail ■ 3 " 8 " 



Height of ear above plane of crown 3 " 3 " 



Ear to point of nose 2 " 10 " 



Tail vertebrw, about 1 " 4 " 



From olecranon to end of longest nail 4 " 2 " 



Extreme stretch between fore and hind toes 24 " " 



