THE .TACK KAiiP.IT. 



645 



Avhite all owv. Ears very long (4i/l> inches from crown). ti|)i)ed 

 with blackish; inner surface white excepting a ])aii(l wiiich is the 

 same color as the back; fur dense and soft. 



Range. — From Saskatchewan to southern Kansas, west to the 

 Sierra Nevada and possibly east to Indiana. Evermann and Butler 

 included it in their list of Indiana mammals, saying: "Mr. Chas. 

 L. Reynolds [a taxidermist of Frankfort] informs me that he 

 mounted one that was taken near Chauncey, in the summer of 

 1888. The specimen is now [1893] in the possession of Mr. ]\Iax 

 Spring, a stationer of Lafayette. In the winter of 1876-77, I was 

 told that an unusual rabbit was caught near Prince AYilliam in 

 Carroll County." 



From recent correspondence with Dr. Evermann I learn that the 

 record was made solely on IMr. Reynolds' statement, and Dr. Ever- 

 mann himself has some doubts as to the correctness of the identifica- 

 tion. I am unable to find the slightest evidence, other than this 

 record, that the species has ever occurred east of the ^Mississippi, 

 or indeed wdthin tw^o or three hundred miles of the ^Mississippi. 

 Therefore I can only believe that there was some mistake regarding 

 this Chauncey specimen. It could possibly have been captured and 

 brought east by some one as a pet, or it might have been a varying 

 hare, or more probably still, a Belgian hare. 



Skull and teeth. — Skull large, nearly four inches in greatest 

 length, broad and with the dorsal profile strongly arched; post- 

 orbital processes free at either end. Upper incisors with a rather 

 deep groove on the front. 



Measurements. — From Baird I copy the following : Total 

 length, 2314 in. ; tail, 3i/^ in. ; hind foot, 51/4 in. ; ear from crown, 

 41/2 in. 



Hahits. — The jack rabbit is one of the swiftest animals that 

 moves on four feet, at least for moderate distances. It is probable 

 that a coyote, grayhound or antelope can all outrun these rabbits in 

 a course several miles in length, but none are its equal in dodging 

 and hence even the swift grayhound and coyote seldom catch them 

 single handed. The extraordinarily long legs are special adapta- 

 tions for speed, while the still more disproportionate ears are aids to 

 the sense of hearing, which is very acute. 



The nest is said to be simpler than that of the cottontails, being 

 usually a mere mat of grass, covered slightly with fur. The young 

 are from one to six. in number and are born with the eyes open. 

 From one to three litters are produced annually. 



[42] 



