"As the sun was going down, we saw the first specimen of an animal known familiarly over two thousand miles of mountain and desert—from Kansas clear to the Pacific ocean—as the 'jackass-rabbit.' He is well named. He is just like any other rabbit, except that he is from one-third to twice as large, has longer legs in proportion to his size, and has the most preposterous ears that ever were mounted on any creature but a jackass. When he is sitting quiet, thinking about his sins, or is absent-minded, or unapprehensive of danger, his majestic ears project above him conspicuously; but the breaking of a twig will scare him nearly to death, and then he tilts his ears back gently, and starts for home. All you can see then, for the next minute, is his long form stretched out straight, and 'streaking it' through the low sage-bushes, head erect, eyes right, and ears just canted to the rear, but showing you just where the animal is, just the same as if he carried a jib. When he is frightened clear through, he lays his long ears down on his back, straightens himself out like a yardstick every spring he makes, and scatters miles behind him with an easy indifference that is enchanting. Our party made this specimen 'hump himself.' I commenced spitting at him with my weapon, and all at the same instant let go with a rattling crash. He frantically dropped 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."

C. C. M.

DESTRUCTION OF BIRD LIFE.

STEPS have been taken under the direction of the New York zoölogical society to ascertain, as nearly as possible, to what extent the destruction of bird life has been carried in this country and the result of the investigation is given in its second annual report, recently published. Replies to questions on the subject were received from over two hundred competent observers in the different states and territories, and the following table is believed to give a fair, certainly not exaggerated, idea of the loss of bird life within the past decade and a half.

The following are the percentages of decrease throughout the states mentioned, during the last fifteen years, according to the reports:

Maine52 per cent.
New Hampshire32 per cent.
Vermont30 per cent.
Massachusetts27 per cent.
Rhode Island60 per cent.
Connecticut75 per cent.
New York48 per cent.
New Jersey37 per cent.
Pennsylvania51 per cent.
Ohio38 per cent.
Indiana60 per cent.
Illinois38 per cent.
Michigan28 per cent.
Wisconsin40 per cent.
Iowa37 per cent.
Missouri36 per cent.
Nebraska10 per cent.
North Dakota58 per cent.
District of Columbia33 per cent.
South Carolina32 per cent.
Georgia65 per cent.
Florida77 per cent.
Mississippi37 per cent.
Louisiana55 per cent.
Texas67 per cent.
Arkansas50 per cent.
Montana75 per cent.
Idaho40 per cent.
Colorado28 per cent.
Indian Territory75 per cent.
General Average46 per cent.

At least three-fifths of the total area of the United States is represented by the thirty states and territories above named, and the general average of decrease of bird life therein is 46 per cent. These figures are startling indeed and should arouse everyone to the gravity of the situation which confronts us. It requires but little calculation to show that if the volume of bird life has suffered a loss of 46 per cent. within fifteen years, at this rate of destruction practically all birds will be exterminated in less than a score of years from now.