178 GLIRES. 
3. Lepus gabbi. (Tab. XIX.) 
Lepus brasiliensis, Frantzius, Arch. f£. Naturg. xxxv. 1, p. 276 (nec Linnzus)’. 
Lepus brasiliensis, var. gabbi, Allen; Mon. N.-Am. Rodent. p. 849 (1877, descr. orig.)”. 
Hab. Costa Rica (Frantzius!; Hoffmann, Mus. Berol.), Talamanca (Gabd, U.S. Nat. 
Mus.”); Panama, Chiriqui (Hicks, ib.2).—Soura America, Colombia. 
Mr. Allen described the Costa-Rican Hare as a variety of Lepus brasiliensis, to which 
species it had already been referred by Dr. v. Frantzius, but observed that its characters 
were so striking that he was at first inclined to regard them as of specific value”. In 
default of any evidence of intergradation, I feel compelled to take the latter view, and to 
raise Mr. Allen’s “subspecific designation” of gabéz to full value. Leaving coloration 
out of the question, the Central-American Hare differs from the Brazilian in its much 
shorter ears (1"-50 as compared with 2”) and in the rudimentary condition of its tail. 
In L. brasiliensis that organ is very short, and almost concealed in the fur of the rump, 
but it is distinctly developed even in very young leverets. In L. gabdi, on the other 
hand, as far as can be judged from dried skins, the tail appears to be represented by 
a mere tubercle, covered with yellowish-brown fur. 
Specimens in the British Museum of ZL. gabbi from Concordia in Colombia, and. of. 
true L. brasiliensis from the Rio Napo in Ecuador, do not show any trace of inter- 
gradation in these characters; and until such evidence is adduced it appears to me that 
L. gabhi must be regarded as a distinct and even well-marked species. 
In Costa Rica Dr. v. Frantzius says that this Hare frequents forest-glades which are 
partially overgrown with brushwood. During the day it remains concealed amongst 
the herbage; and as woodcraft is little understood in Costa Rica, it is seldom shot. 
The young, however, which are easily surprised, are often taken alive!. 
Our figure is taken from one of the Colombian specimens in the British Museum. 
4. Lepus callotis. 
Lepus callotis, Wagler, Nat. Syst. Amph. &c. p. 25 (1830, descr. orig.)'; Baird, Mamm. N. Am. 
p- 590°; de Saussure, Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1860, p. 56°; Dugés, La Nat.i. p. 1884; Allen, 
Mon. N.-Am. Rodent. p. 350°. 
Lepus mexicanus, Lichtenstein, apud Richardson, Rep. Brit. Assoc. 1836, p. 150°. 
Lepus texianus, Audubon & Bachman, Quad. N. Am. ii. p. 156, p. exxxili (1853, descr. orig.)’. 
Eliztactochtli, Hernandez, De Quad. Nov. Hisp. fol. 2, cap. iv. 
Liebre of Mexicans’. 
Hab. Nortu America, central regions from Oregon southwards®.—Mexico (Deppe, Mus. 
Berol.), Michoacan (de Saussure*), Guanajuato, Guadalajara (Dugés*), Orizaba, 
Tehuantepec (Sumichrast, U.S. Nat. Mus.*). 
| The “‘ Jackass Hare” is a well-known animal on the central prairies. of the United 
States, and, according to Dr. Dugés, it is the “ Liebre” par excellence of the Mexicans. 
