192 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 
situations. The habits of this new variety I now made a 
study, and ‘found that they were amphibious, sleeping in 
forms on the edge of the morass during the heat of the 
day, and feeding before sunrise and after sunset.on the dif- 
ferent descriptions of water-plants. Whether this hare 
was able to dive or not I did not ascertain, but that he is 
a most expert swimmer there can be no doubt. His size 
is the same as that of our common wild rabbit, but from 
his build being thicker, he may possibly be heavier. His 
legs are short, feet large, ears small, and head very full and 
round; color dark grayish-brown, with scarcely any white 
upon the scut, and the fur exceedingly soft and fine. I fre- 
quently tested his qualities on the table, and can speak in 
the highest approval of the delicacy and delicious flavor of 
his flesh, which is much lighter in shade than that of any 
other of the same family with which I am acquainted. The 
* skin, remarkable for its thinness, is easily removed from the 
carcass; but great care must be taken to prevent it get- 
ting torn. On inquiring, I found that this hare was well 
known by the residents, and from them learned that it bred 
once a year, generally producing two at a birth; and that 
the young at a very early age follow their mother in her 
sundry aquatic excursions in search of those delicate water- 
plants that form their staple food. 
