The Washington times., 1905-10-22
RABBIT BURROWS,
BUT HARE DOESN'
Difference Between Two
Animals Explained.
ARE FOUND EVERYWHERE
Bunny Ubiquitous and Has Many
Enemies-Twilight Best Hunting
Time-Twain's Comment.

What is the difference between a
hare and rabbit?
This question is frequently asked. and
is especially apropos at this season of
the year, when the hunter prepares to
sally forth and knock over a bunny or
two for a stew. The 'cottontails" are
called rabbits and '.hares'' indis-
criminately in this section, although
rabbit is probably the more common
word.
The difference between a hare and a
rabbit is, the former lives on the sur
face of the ground, while the latter digs
a cyclone cellar and uses II as q re-
ception room. There are about thirty
species of rabbits and hares in the
world, and all countries except Aus
tralia originally possessed some speci
mems, but even Australia cannot now
complain that she is without representa-
tives of a species that make themselves
a power in the earth
The polar hare, the Eskimo of it's
species, dwells amid the snow and ice
or that desolate region, and nature has
so arranged that the color OF his clothes
harmonizes with his surroundings
South America is poorest in having but
one species.
The Jack Rabbit.
Lepus callotis is the name which
science gives TO a species of this won
derful animal, that wien danger threat
ems, knows so well wn1t TO do with its
feet, but in common. .vernacular, and for
business purposes, he is known as the
Jackass rabbit. or jack rabbit. He de-
rives his euphonious name from our
great American mocking bird, the jack
ass. from the supposed resemblance of
their long ears. and the jack rabbit as
far excels all of his species in speed as
his namesake does in strenuous song
Jack rabbits are the largest of all the
hares, being twenty-five inches in
length, while the ordinary rabbit or
cottontail, is but seventeen inches. The
hind legs and ears are long. color about
yellowish gray. sides and back of neck
lighter, below white, tail sometimes
black. but in the north entirely white.
Like all hares, they do not burrow, but
build a nest on the top of the ground
In northern climates the rabbit turns
pure white IL winter. while farther
south the change is partial. or does not
occur at all.
EAys Nany Enemies.
IN a natural state their increase is
held in check by the scarcity OF food,
their moral duty TO produce enough
food suited 10 their taste they feel It is
theier moral duty 10 produce enough
young rabbits to eat it, The eagle and
hawk frequently Kill jack rabbits, espe-
cially the young. but their most de-
structive foes. next to the great assas-
sin, man, are the wolves and foxes
The coyote IS. said to be an expert on
the subject Of rabbit hunting, and he
considers il an unlucky day when he
does not carry in his inside pocket the
left hind foot of a rabbit During the
autumn and winter Jack rabbits are
hunted and killed IN great numbers
Mark Twain has written 4 humorous
description OF jack rabbit that he
started Up. in which he says; He fre-
quently dron.ed his ears. set up his tail
and left for San Francisco at lightning
speed. Long after he was out of sight
we could hear him whiz.'
Feed at Twilight
Twilight Is the best time for tho
hunter TO get rabbits. or when tho moon
is nearing sillness at night. when they
may be seen after the start By the
dogs Hunters who delight in plain
food plain room. plain bed and the
necessity OF washing in the barrel
where the spring bubbles forth near
the mountain home find from experience
that IL is best in mountainous districts,
where the enemies OF the rabbits are
numerous, 10 hunt grouse. gray squir-
rels or other game during the day and
when the evening sun Is low 10 un-
loose the docs and hunt rabbits.
The rabbit knows well the holes %
woodchucks. weasels. skunks. and feS2@s,
and when closely pursued it will run into
these underground homes instead Of
reaching it's own home. But woe to
Mr.. Cottontail IL the weasel, the fox
or the skunk is in his dwelling There
is no time for explanations; it is a
case OF fight and a survival of the fit
test. The survivor in this case usually
L.. . -