1869.] 87 [Coues. 



ordure. Many of these paths lead to and from the marsh; and the 

 animals' tracks are often seen in the dry upper belt of the sea beach 

 itself. But I have never yet, in the course of many rambles, startled 

 a hare in the muddier parts of the marsh, nor seen footprints or 

 excrement in the oozy black soil ; and am inclined to think that the 

 prevalent impression regarding the decidedly aquatic habits of the 

 animal is somewhat exaggerated. However it may be in other local- 

 ities, the hares on Borden Banks prefer to stay where they can pass 

 dry-shod over the ground; will run around rather than enter pools, 

 and only betake themselves to the water in emergencies. This 

 opinion I find corroborated by the observations of those with whom I 

 have conversed upon the subject; and it is further sustained by the 

 location of the remains of the numerous traps with which the natives 

 used, in ante-bellum times, to capture the unsuspecting little animals. 

 All the dead-falls I have seen, and they have been many, were placed, 

 without exception, around the edges of the marsh, in comparatively 

 dry places. That the little knolls scattered about in the beginning 

 of the marshes, before the ground subsides to the general water's 

 level, are especial places of resort, is shown by the quantity of drop- 

 pings found in such situations. In the face of positive and unequivo- 

 cal testimony, such as Audubon and Bachman give, no one can 

 pretend to deny either the aquatic instincts or natatorial capabilities 

 of the animal ; but I think that the generalizations deduced by these 

 authors from the illustrations that they bring forward, require some 

 qualification. 



I have met with no wood rabbits (L. sylvaticus) on Borden Island, 

 and do not think that the two species are there associated, though 

 such is the case in many other localities. The observer has conse- 

 quently no opportunity of directly comparing the appearances pre- 

 sented by these animals during life ; but one familiar with the looks of 

 the cotton-tails (and who is not ?) cannot fail to be impressed at first 

 sight with the different aspect of the marsh rabbits. The difference 

 in the contour of the body, and in color, is readily appreciable at any 

 distance; and the gait is strikingly dissimilar. The marsh rabbit 

 looks much darker, and duller, and, in particular, fails to discover 

 the conspicuous white spot that the upturned tail of the wood rabbit 

 discloses, and which has earned for the latter its aptly expressive 

 designation. The marsh rabbit also looks smaller, although actual 

 measurement does not show any very decided difference in size. This 

 deceptive appearance is owing to the different gait just alluded to. 



