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BACHMAN’S HARE. 
rufous ; on the flanks there is an indistinct pale longitudinal dash just 
above the haunches ; under surface of tail white, edged with brownish 
black ; general colour of the tarsus above, dull-rufous ; sides of tarsus, 
brown ; ears, on the fore part mottled with black and yellowish-white, on 
the hinder part greyish-white ; internally the ears are dull orange, with a 
white margin all around their openings ; their apical portion is obscurely 
margined with black. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Inches. Lines. 
Length from point of nose to root of tail, - - - 10 
Tail (vertebral), 9 
“ to end of fur, 1 3 
Bar internally, - - 2 8 
From heel to point of longest nail, 3 
Tip of nose to ear, 2 5 
HABITS. 
The manners of this pretty Hare, as observed in Texas by J. W. Audubon, 
appear to assimilate to those of the common rabbit ( Lepus sylvaticus), the 
animal seldom quitting a particular locality, and making its form in thick 
briar patches or tufts of rank grass, keeping near the edges of the woody 
places, and being seen in the evenings, especially for a short time after 
sunset, when it can be easily shot. 
We have been favoured with the following particulars as to the habits 
of this Hare by our esteemed friend Captain J. P. McCown of the United 
States Army : 
“ This Hare is deficient in speed, and depends for its safety upon 
dodging among the thick and thorny chaparals or nopal clusters (cadi) 
which it inhabits, never venturing far from these coverts. 
“ Large numbers can be seen early in the morning or late in the evening, 
playing in the small openings or on the edges of the chaparals, or nibbling 
the tender leaves of the nopal, which seems to be the common prickly pear 
of our country, only much larger from congeniality of climate.” 
“ The principal enemies of these Hares in Texas are the cat species, 
hawks, and snakes.” 
During the war with Mexico, some of the soldiers of our army who were 
stationed on the Mexican frontier had now and then a sort of battue, to 
kill all the game they could in their immediate vicinity ; and by surround- 
ing a space of tolerably open ground, especially if well covered with high 
