I 



SWAMP HARE. 289 



marshy places, or the neighbourhood of streams and ponds of water, to 

 which it is fond of resorting. It swims with great facility from one little 

 islet to another, and is generally found seeking its food in wet places, or 

 near the water, as it subsists on the roots of various kinds of aquatic 

 plants, especially on a species of iris growing in the w^ater. 



Persons who have given us information on the subject of this hare, in- 

 form us, that when first started, and whilst running, its trampings are 

 louder, and can be heard at a greater distance, than those of any other 

 hare. 



As it suddenly leaps or bounds from its hiding place ere it is seen, it 

 is apt to startle the rambler who has intruded upon its solitary retreat, 

 and he may be impressed with the belief that he has started a young 

 deer. When chased by dogs, the Swamp-Hare runs with great swiftness, 

 and is able to escape from them without difficulty ; but it almost invari- 

 ably directs its flight towards the nearest pond, as if led by instinct to 

 seek an element in which all traces of its scent are soon lost to its eager 

 pursuers. There is a specimen of the Swamp-Hare, which we added to 

 the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, con- 

 siderably larger than the Northern hare ; this individual, on being pur- 

 sued by hounds, swam twice across the Alabama river, and was not 

 captured till it had finally retreated to a hollow tree. 



We have been informed that it is a very common habit of this species 

 when pursued, to swim to the edge of some stream or pond, retreat be- 

 neath the overhanging roots of the trees that may be growing on its bor- 

 der, or seek for a secure shelter under the hollows made by the washing 

 of the banks. The swiftness of foot possessed by this Hare, and the stra- 

 tagems to which it is capable of resorting might easily enable it to elude 

 pursuit but for this habit of seeking for shelter as soon as it is chased, 

 which is the cause of its being frequently captured. 



When the waters in the swamps are low, it seeks the first hollow tree, 

 where it is easily secured. In this manner. Major Lee informed us, that 

 in his vicinity the boys and the domestics caught thirty or forty in three 

 days. 



The j'oung of this Hare are frequently found in nests formed of leaves 

 and grasses, placed on hillocks in the swamps, or in the hollow of some 

 fallen tree. We have been informed that it produces young at least 

 twice in a season, and from four to six at a litter. 



GEOGKAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 



We have not heard of the existence of this animal to the east or north 

 of the State of Alabama, but it is nmnerous in all the swamps of the 



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