Cones.] 86 [Jane 2, 



June 2, 1869. 

 The President in the chair. Twenty-six members present. 



The following paper was presented: — 

 Observations on the Marsh Hare. By Elliott Coues, M.D. 

 Lepus palustris Bachman. 



Lepus palustris Bachman, Journal Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., VII, 1837, 

 pp. 194, 366, pi. xv, xvi ; and VIII, 1839, p. 79.— (Read 1836.) 



Lepus palustris Audubon, Orn. Biog., IV, 1839, p. 510, pi. 

 CCCLXXii (of Buteo "vulgaris"). 



Lepus palustris Waterhouse, Nat. Hist. Mam., H, 1848, p. 119. 

 " " Audubon and Bachman, Quad, of N. Am., I, 1849, 



p. 151, pi. xviii. 



Lepus palustris Baird, Mam. of N. Am. (P. Rr. Rep., VIII), 1857, 

 p. 615. 



Lepus Douglassii, var. 2, Gray, " Charlesw. Mag., N. H., Nov., 

 1837, p. 586." (Fide Baird.) 



In the work above cited, Audubon and Bachman state that the 

 " Marsh Hare has been seen as far north as the swamps of the south- 

 ern parts of North Carolina." It is the most abundant and charac- 

 teristic mammal along the coast of this State, on Borden Banks and 

 contiguous islands, as far north, at least, as Cape Lookout; and its 

 ordinary range extends somewhat further. The same authors accord 

 it a range extending to Texas; Baird, however, is inclined to doubt 

 the correctness of assigning this locality. It appears to be strictly a 

 maritime species, almost exclusively confined to the vicinity of the 

 sea; one of the most interior localities thus far accredited being the 

 swampy ground along the Wateree River, between Columbia and 

 Charleston, S. C. 



Along a considerable part of Borden Banks, a narrow strip of dry 

 ground, overgrown with shrubbery and rank weeds, separates the 

 sea-wall of sand drifts from the low, flat, reedy marsh on the Bogue 

 Sound side. This situation is the favorite resort of the rabbits upon 

 the island ; they apparently prefer it to the marsh itself. In some 

 places, in fact, they are so numerous that the thick shrubbery resem- 

 bles a great warren, intersected as it is with numberless covered path- 

 ways, beaten by innumerable footsteps, and plentifully bestrewn with 



