LEPUS. 177 
is the commonest species of the genus in the Atlantic States. Mr. Allen has well 
described the variations in size and coloration which occur in different parts of its exten- 
sive range, and which have led to the description of several nominal species, as Lepus 
bachmani, Waterhouse, LZ. nuttalli, Bachman, ZL. artemisia, Bachman, and L. auduboni, 
Baird. Of these, three seem to represent distinct geographical races; for L. nuttalli of 
the central tracts from Oregon southwards is paler and smaller than the true Z. sylva- 
ticus of the Atlantic sea-board ; LZ. arizone of the deserts of Arizona is still paler and 
has longer ears; and L. auduboni of the Pacific slopes is darker than the typical form. 
They all, however, blend one with another, and cannot be regarded as more than varie- 
ties of one widespread and somewhat variable species®. 
According to Audubon and Bachman, the Wood-Hare is one of the most prolific of 
its family, breeding throughout the greater part of the year, and producing five to 
seven young ones at a time. It runs with great fleetness when first started, but, if 
pursued, soon seeks for shelter in a hole among the roots of a tree or in a hollow log*. 
South Mexico and Yucatan form the southernmost extreme of the range of this 
species, as at present known. Mr. Allen observes that specimens from those countries 
have the rufous tinge of the fur strongly developed, especially on the legs and feet, but 
adds that specimens from Tehuantepec and Orizaba can be almost exactly matched by 
others from the neighbourhood of Washington. 
2. Lepus graysoni. 
Lepus graysoni, Allen, Mon. N.-Am. Rodent. p. 347 (1877, descr. orig.’). 
Hab. Mexico, Tres Marias Islands (Grayson, U.S. Nat. Mus.) ; Costa Rica, Talamanca 
(Carmiol, ib."). 
This species has been lately described by Mr. Allen from two specimens in the National 
Museum at Washington—one brought from the Tres Marias Islands by the late Colonel 
A. J. Grayson, in whose honour the specific name is bestowed, the other obtained by — 
Carmiol in Costa Rica. Mr. Allen says of the Tres-Marias example that “it is about 
the size of Lepus sylvaticus, but differs in many important features from any of the 
varieties of the L. sylvaticus group. The form of the postorbital processes shows that 
in this respect its affinities are with this group rather than with the Aquatic Hares 
(L. palustris and L. aquaticus), although its feet are small and as sparsely haired as in 
LL. palustris. In general colour and in some other features it somewhat resembles 
L. brasiliensis, but is in other respects quite different. It has a tail as short as L. trow- 
bridget.” The Costa-Rican specimen agrees in all essential particulars, but is some- 
what paler-coloured!. 
Knowing this Hare only from the original description, I can express no opinion as to 
its specific distinctness from L. sylvaticus. 
* Quadr. N. Am. i. p. 1738. 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Mamm. Vol. 1, Deceméder 1880. 2A 
