P L A T E .. 19.
Ptz-b L is l t d o y PortrL iMuPr'Oy. P ajt7z.sz.ry 1 $ Zip.
[71.] 4. L epus (L agomys) princeps. (Richardson.)
The Little-Chief Hare.
S end«; lepua. Liira. S.i6-Jmm,tagomyB. Cuvraa.
Lepus (Lagomys) p rin c e p a . I I ic i ia r d s o n , Zool. Journal. No. 12, p. 520. March, ltiJo.
t ^ Tv sT .ia o x r s (p nm e p i) ,‘Mcm s ttU»g ns iu s ,M pile'iTm ,-m m m lisrm nd alis.
The Little-Chief Hare: tailless ; colour blackish-brown, beneath gray; head short and thick ; ears rounded. 3
This highly interesting little animal inhabits the Rocky Mountains, from
latitude 52° to 60°. Through the kindness of Mr. Macpherson, I obtained some
specimens from the River of the Mountains, or south branch of the Mackenzie;
and Mr. Drummond killed several near the sources of the Elk River. There is
likewise a good specimen in the museum of the Hudson’s Bay Company.
Mr. Drummond informs me, that the Little-Chief Hare frequents heaps of loose
stones, through the interstices of which it makes its way with great facility. It is
often seen at sun-set, mounted on a stone, and calling to its mates by a peculiar
shrill whistle. On the approach of a man, it utters a feeble cry, like the squeak
of a rabbit when hart, and instantly disappears, to re-appear in a minute or two,
at the distance, of twenty or thirty yards, if the object of its apprehension remains
stationary. On the least movement of the intruder, it instantly conceals itself
-again repeating its cry of fear, which, when there are several of the animals in the
same neighbourhood, is passed from one .to the other. Mr. Drummond describes
their cry as very deceptive, and as appearing to come from an animal at a great
distance, whilst, in fact, the little creature is close at hand; and, if seated on a gray
limestone rock, its colour is so similar, that it can scarcely be discerned. These
animals feed on vegetables. Mr. Drummond never found their burrows, and he
thinks that they do not make any, but that they construct their nests amongst
the stones. He does not know whether they store up hay for the winter or not,
but is certain that they do not come abroad during that season.
The trivial name which I have adopted for the species, is a translation of the
Indian appellation, bucJcathns Icah-yawzai. The Little-Chief Hare resembles the
pika {lagomys alprnus) in its alpine habits and general form. It is, however, a
smaller animal, the largest of our specimens falling short of seven inches, which is
the length of the smallest pika seen by Pallas. I have not had an opportunity of