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Kodentia. MAMMALIA. Bodentia. ciii 
1 
MEXICAN HARE [Lepiis callotis, Wagler). — 'I’liis is 
be in more temperate climes. 'I’he breed presented a 
seen ill two varieties — the Northern Jackass Hare 
great variety of aspect. 'I’he ears of some were ex- 
and L. texianus of And. and IJacli. In color, is a 
ceedingly long and erect ; others were full “ lop- 
pale ashy-gray above, tinged or mixed with brownish 
eared.” 'I’hese Rabbits burrowed, and they subsisted 
or black. The ears are more or less tipped with 
upon the succulent plants of the sandy cay ; the 
black. The tail is lilack above. 
wild portulacca being the most common. 'I’he term 
The Sonthern variety, callotis, is a trifle smaller ; 
Rabbit is distinctively a specific name, and is applic- 
the black of the ear-tips nearly obsolete, being re- 
able to the English L. cuniculus .only. 'I’he word 
placed by a yellowish or pale white. I’he species is 
Hare is applied to our American forms, and means 
nearer L. californicns than others. Habitat, from 
more than one kind. The short legs of the former. 
Oregon to Mexico. 
and its habit of burrowing, distinguish it especially 
THE CALIFORNIAN HARE (Lepiis californicns, 
from any other. 
Gray) is about the size, or a little smaller, than the 
preceding. 'I'he ears are about the same as in that 
Family— LAGOMYID AH. 
species ; the hind-feet shorter. Its color is the same. 
bnt stronger in tints. It ranges from the northern 
In this group the dentition is much like that of the 
part of California southward to Cape St. Lucas ; its 
Hares. For a long time the two were embraced 
range east is limited by the Sierra Nevada Monn- 
under one head. 'I’he Pikas, as they are termed, 
tains. Dr. Cray first described it, in 1837, under the 
“ have the dorsal outline of the skull gently arched. 
present name. 
the occipital portion being but slightly below the 
MARSH HARE [Lepus 'palnstris, Bachman ). — 
plane of the inter-orbital region, instead of being 
About as large as L. sylvaticus, and generally re- 
greatly depressed, as in the Hares. 'I’he orbits are 
sembles it ; but has a much shorter tail, and incisors 
much smaller, and open more upwardly, and the 
broader and heavier. 'I'he ears are broader and more 
zygomatic processes arise at a much higher level. 
rounded. Its color above is a yellowish-brown, in- 
* * * In general form, the skull is depressed or 
dining to rufous, strongly shaded with black. It 
flattened, greatly expanded posteriorly, and narrowed 
was first described by Bachman, in 1837. Its habitat 
anteriorly. 'I’he cutting edge of the front up})er 
is the low-lands of the South Atlantic States ; its 
incisor is gouge-shaped, instead of chisel-shaped.” 
most northern locality yet known is about Fort 
'I’he Pikas are nearly tailless. 'I’he general foi'in is 
Macon, North Carolina. It is found in Florida and 
like that of the Arvicolce. 'I’here is a well-developed 
in Mexico. Specimens were found by Mr. Ridgway, 
clavicle ; the toes number five in front and four be- 
in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. He says: “It is very com- 
hind ; at the base of each toe is a prominent naked 
mon in bottom-lands, where it frequents bushy 
pad. 'I’hese creatures are delicate and tender, inhab- 
swamps and the borders of creeks.” 
iting the loose rocks about the high mountainous 
WATER HARE [Lepus uquaticus, Bach.) — 'I'his 
cliffs. 'I'hey are social, living in communities, and 
Hare is as large as L. arnericanus. In color, it is 
store up food for the colder season. They sit up 
like L. sylvaticus. Its length is nineteen to twenty 
on their haunches, lijje the Marmot, and “ utter a 
inches. Its pelage is rather Iiarsh. 'I’he feet are 
sharp, shrill, barking cry.” One species only is 
sparsely furred. It abounds in the cane-breaks of 
known in North America, which is confined to the 
the Gulf Slates, and reaches as far north as Missouri. 
mountainous range of the West. Western Asia is 
THE EUROPEAN RABBIT [Lepus cuniculus, Linn.) 
the home of the remaining species. 
is extensively acclimated in this country. On Sable 
NORTH AMERICAN PIKA (Lagomysprineeps. Rich.) 
Island, off Nova Scotia, it exists in a wild state. 
— 'I’his creature, known also as the Little Chief 
where, it is said, it has in fifty years assumed “one 
Hare, is about seven inches in leneth. Its ears are 
common silvery-gray tint, with white collars.” “ Rab- 
broad, large and rounded. “ 'I’he color above is 
bit Key,” near Key West, is quite overrun with the 
grayish-brown, varied with black and yellowish- 
Rabbits which live in burrows. In 1861, the writer 
brown; the sides, yellowish-brown; below, grayish. 
procured a male Lop-eared Rabbit and a common 
more or less strongly tinged with pale yellowish- 
gray female, and kept them in Fort Jefferson, Dry 
brown. Whiskers are numerous, one to two and a 
Tortugas, Florida. They increased to a great extent. 
half inches long; in some nearly black. 'I’he texture 
and sevei’al ))airs were placed on Loggerhead Key, 
of the pelage is much as in Arvicolw, especially in 
in the neighborhood ; here there was no population. 
A. xantho, being much firmer than in the Hares, 
save the light-keei>er and family, the island being 
with a much smaller amount of soft under fur.” 
about ten acres in extent, and covered by cactus and 
Habitat as above, ranging along the summits of the 
“ bay cedar.” 'I'he Rabbits increased very rapidly. 
Rocky ]\Iountains to British America. Mr. Allen 
and have since been a . source of comfort to the few 
found it “very abundant near the limits of trees, in 
individuals there resident. 'I'he meat of the creatures 
the vicinity of Montgomery, Colorado. 'I'hey appear 
is not so palatable as when reared in the north, yet 
to rarely wander from their home; are timid, yet 
is a God-send to those who find other meat difficult 
easily become familiar. Though retreating when first 
to procure. 'I'his experiment was instituted aftei' 
alarmed, they soon come cautiously out of their 
being told that the Governor-General of Jamaica 
holes, till one may hear their sharp little cries in 
maintained a warren, and used the Rabbits for food. 
every direction. Their color so nearly resembles the 
We did not find them the luxury that they prove to 
rocks they live among that they are not easily seen, 
