LITTLE-CHIEF HARE. 
247 
found their burrows, and he thinks they do not make any, but that they 
construct their nests among the stones. He does not know whether they 
store up hay for winter or not, but is certain, that they “do not come 
abroad during that season.” 
To the above account, it affords us pleasure to annex the extract of a 
letter, which we received from Mr. Nutt all on the same subject. 
Of this curious species of Lepus, (L. princeps of Richaedson), we were 
not fortunate enough to obtain any good specimens. I found its range to 
be in that latitude (42°) almost entirely alpine. I first discovered it by 
its peculiar cry, far up the mountain of the dividing ridge between the 
waters of the Columbia and Colorado, and the Missouri, hiding amongst 
loose piles of rocks, such as you generally see beneath broken cliffs. 
From this retreat I heard a slender, but very distinct bleat, so like that 
of a young kid or goat, that I at first concluded it to be such a call ; but 
in vain trying to discover any large animal around me, at length I may 
almost literally say, the mountain brought forth nothing much larger than 
a mouse, as I discovered that this little animal was the real author of this 
unexpected note.” 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 
Dr. Richardson states, that this animal inhabits the Rocky Mountains 
from latitude 52° to 60° The specimen of Mr. Townsend was procured 
in latitude 42°, and therefore within the limits of the United States. 
GENERAL REMARKS. 
Until recently it was not supposed, that we had in America any species 
of this genus. We have compared it with the Pika, (hagornys alpinus), 
of the Eastern continent, described by Pallas. Our animal is not only 
of smaller size, but differs from it in the formation of the skull and several 
other particulars. 
