MAMMALS. 



47 



r 



and rump, black ; abdomen^ beneatli, pure white, like cotton ; beneath the head and anterior 

 surface of hind feet grayish white ; inner surface of the limbs ashy gray ; the neck beneath 

 rusty gray. Pads of the feet bright brownish red. Nape dusky, much as in the adult, but the 

 colors less bright. 



Total length, 11 inches ; ears, two inches 2 lines, but little longer than the head ; hind foot^ 

 2 inches 9 lines. 



Measurtmenis. 



■M 



■hk ■ 



To base of ears 

 To base of tail 



Tail to end of vertebrae 



P3 



o 



CI. 

 S 



o 





4.00 

 21.75 



a. 



03 



i 



Tail to end of hairs 



Ears posteriorly 

 Ears anteriorly. 



4.25 



24.50 



a 



M 

 a 

 cd 



o 



fe5 



8 S 





Ears above notch 



Fore arm 

 Fore foot 



Tibi 



la 



Hind foot 



1.58 



1.75 



2.75 



2.83 



^ 



5.17 



5.42 



4.75 



5.07 



4.00 



4.58 



5.00 





2.25 



2.93 



5 . 25 



5.83 



4.58 



4.58 



3.83 



19.50 



Broken, 



Broken. 

 4.83 

 4.50 

 4.25 

 4.17 

 2.17 



4.08 

 19.75 

 2.25 

 3.25 

 5.83 

 5.58 

 4.93 



o 



03 



a 



cd 



Z3 



at 



Q 



M 



< 



20.00 

 2.25 

 3.17 

 5.25 



6.95 



4.75 



5.00 



2.17 



4.58 



4.58 



4.75 



** The 'jackass rabbit/ so called because of its great ears, is the only mammal, excepting the wolf, that occurs abundanllj on 

 the naked prairies. It is easily put up, for it usually seeks no oilier protection or hiding place than a lilllo scratch in tlie ground 

 in the shade afforded by some stunted bush. Does not squat so readily as the Lepus virgintanus^ and never burrows for 

 protection like L. ^^rtemisia. In certain sections, during the winter, the coarse and stinking creosote plant constitute almost ita 

 only food. Its subsistence on such diet is evidence of its haidihood, and pioves ita capability of existence where most animals 

 of its kind must perishi The traveller is at limes glad to obtain it for food ; yet ita flesh is hard and dry, and sometimes highly, 

 but not always pleasantly, flavored. It^ great swiftness pievents it from faHing an easy prey to wolves. I on one occasion saw 

 this rabbit pursued by some large hawks ; they seemed to be wary of their power to capture it, and did not attempt to aeize 

 it while in my sight. In plazas and other places, well beaten paths indicate the favorite haunt or play ground of this timid 

 but watchful animal. When suddenly started up, especially if it is much friglitcncJ, it3 bo:Iy U brought into a scmi-circlc, with 



ears laid close back, and its vigorous leaps are continued in one direction but a few hundred yards ; it thus overcomes upace 

 Tinder great disadvantages ; its course, ordinarily even, is very zig-zag. ff going at an easy jump its ears arc thrown forward , 

 reminding one of the flapping appendages of its prototype, jackaw, unless endangered by the thorny vegetation ; its prodigious 

 leaps, which clear it of most of the flora in ita habitat, however, save the trouble of any especial care in this respect. The 

 contrast of color — black and white — about its tail and head is *pjite decided when running from you, the position in which it is 

 usually seen. Its akin is as tender and it is as easily killed as other hares. It brings forth but two or three young at a time, and 

 not till late in summer, so far as my observation went." — (J, H. Clark.) 



57. LEPUS CALIFORNICUS, Gray (p. 594.)— California Hare. 



One specimen of this species was collected on the lower Colorado river of California, hy Mr. 

 Schott. 



58. LEPUS SYLVATICUS, Bach man (p. 597.)— Gray Ftabbit. 

 A specimen, probably of this species, was collected at Tn^ll iiiola, Texas. 



