14 JACK RABBITS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



scope of this bulletin, however desirable it might be to consider these 

 questions. For the x>resent it will be sufficient merely to give the 

 species now generally recognized, with the full knowledge that their 

 status and nomenclature are likely to undergo considerable modifica- 

 tion in the near future. Such a course is unsatisfactory, but unavoid- 

 able under the circumstances. 



For convenience, the jack rabbits which occur in the United States 

 may be divided into two groups, according to the color of the upper 

 surface of the tail.' In the first group, represented by the Prairie Hare 

 [Lepus campestrh) — the only Jack rabbit which ever turns white in 

 winter — the tail is entirely white. In tlie second group the upper sur- 

 face of the tail is marked by a nu)re or less distinct stripe of black. 

 Four or more black-tailed rabbits have been described from the West: 

 (1) A butt-bellied species found in Califi»rnia and southwestern Oregon 

 {Lepns calif or nicus); (2) a large, long-limbed species inhabiting south- 

 ern Arizona and Sonora, known as Allen's Hare {JA'pus aUenl)', {^) a 

 widely distributed wliite bellied animal with long ears, occurring in the 

 Great Basin and commonly known as the Texan Jack Ivabbit (i/e/iws 

 texiamifs), and (4) the Black-eared Jack, or Eastern Jackass Hare of the 

 Great Plains {Lcpits mclanoiiH), very closely related to the Texan Hare, 

 but differing fron> it in i)ossessing shorter ears and richer coloring. 



One or more Mexican si)ecie8 cross the southern border of the United 

 States and are found in the extreme southern i)art of Texas, but their 

 range within our limits is so restricted that they will not be considered 

 furtlu'r. 



Predrie Hare or White-tailed Jaclc Rabbit. 



(LcpiiK campestris IJachniau.) 



The Prairie Hare was first diseoveretl by Lewis and ("lark on their 

 memorable trij) across the (Continent in 1804— 180G, although not actually 

 named until 1837.- They described it as follows: 



The liarc [ Lepus campistris] on tliiH siilo of the Rocky Mountains inhabits the yreat 

 phiioH of the Cohinihia. Eastward of thosi- uionntainH they inhabit the plains of the 

 Missouri. They weigh froni 7 to 11 pounds. * * * The hea<l, neck, back, shoul- 

 ders, thighs, and ontt-r part of the legs are of a lead color; the.sides, as they 

 approach the belly become gradually more white; the belly, breast, and iuner part 

 of the legs and thighs are white, with a liglit sliade of lead color; the tail is round 

 and bluntly jjointed, covered with wliite, soft, tine fur, not quite so long as on the 

 other parts of the body; the body is covered with a deep, line, soft, clo.se liir. The 

 colors here described are those which the animal assumes from the middle of April 

 to the middle of November; the rest of the year be is pure white, except the black 

 and reddish-brown of the ears, which never change. A few reddish-brown spots 

 are Bometimcs intermixed with the white at this season [February 2(5, IHOfiJ on the 

 head and tiie upi)er jiart of the neck and shoulders. * * * His food is grass and 

 herbs; in winter he feeds much on the bark of several aromatic herbs growing on 



1 



'Jack rabbits never turn the tail up like cottontails, and hence it is easy to tell 

 at a distance whether the color of the upper surfaie is bl.ick or white. 

 51Jachiuau, Jouin. Acad. Nat. Sci., riiiladelphia. Vol. VIl. 1837, p. 340. 



