BLACK TAILED HARE. 
96 
sides, and under parts of the neck, dingy pale fawn, gradually becoming 
white on the chest ; haunches, legs and under surface white ; the hairs 
on the rump annulated with black, and near the root of the tail almost 
entirely black ; the whole of the tail on the upper surface to the extrem- 
ity black ; on the under surface the hairs are black from the roots, slightly 
tipped with grayish brown. Hairs on the under surface of the leet, in 
some specimens red, in others a soiled yellowish-brown. Ears, posterioily 
for two-thirds of their breadth black at the roots, gradually blending into 
fawn, and on the inner third the longitudinal line of demarcation being 
very distinct ; this fawn colour is mixed with black hairs, edged at the tip 
with black, the remainder of the edge fawn ; the outer margin of the pos- 
terior surface to its apex pure white. Inner surface of the ears nearly 
naked, except at the outer edge, where they are clothed with short griz- 
zled brown hairs. Whiskers white and black, the former predominating ; 
chin and throat, white. The marginal line of demarcation between the 
colour of the back and that of the under surface, is somewhat abrupt 
across the upper portion of the thighs, and very distinctly marked. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Length from point of nose to root of tail. 
Tail (vertebrie), 
“ including fur, . - - - 
From heel to longest nail, - - - 
Head over the curve, - - - - 
From eye to nose, - - 
Ears posteriorly, . - - - 
Greatest breadth, - - - • 
Inches. 
20 
H 
4f 
If 
4| 
2i 
HABITS. 
Our account of this species is principally derived from the journals of J. 
W. Audubon, kept during his journey through part of Texas, made for the 
Durpose of procuring the animals of that State, and obtaining some knowl- 
edge of their habits for our present work, in 1845 and 1846, with an ex- 
tract from which we now present our readers. 
“ One fine morning in January, 1845, at San Antonio de Bexar, as I 
mounted my faithful one-eyed chesnut horse, admiring his thin neck and 
bony legs, his delicate head and flowing flaxen tail and mane, I was 
saluted with a friendly good morning by Mr. Cadaiian, then holding the 
important office of mayor of the little village ; and on his ascertaining 
that my purpose was to have a morning hunt on the prairies and throuaH 
