Chief hare \Chief" hare`\ (Zo["o]l.) A small rodent (Lagamys princeps) inhabiting the summits of the Rocky Mountains; -- also called crying hare, calling hare, cony, American pika, and little chief hare.

Note: It is not a true hare or rabbit, but belongs to the curious family Lagomyid[ae].

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Cony \Co"ny\ (? or ?; 277), n. [OE. coning, conig, coni, OF. connin, conin, connil, fr. L. cuniculus a rabbit, cony, prob. an Hispanic word.]

[Written also coney.]

1. (Zo["o]l.)
   (a) A rabbit, esp., the European rabbit (Lepus cuniculus).
   (b) The chief hare.

Note: The cony of Scripture is thought to be Hyrax Syriacus, called also daman, and cherogril. See Daman.

2. A simpleton. [Obs.]

It is a most simple animal; whence are derived our usual phrases of cony and cony catcher. --Diet's Dry Dinner (1599).

3. (Zo["o]l.)
   (a) An important edible West Indian fish (Epinephelus apua); the hind of Bermuda.
   (b) A local name of the burbot. [Eng.]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)