418 



ZOOLOGY 



SECT. 



body covered with soft fur. The head bears below its anterior 

 extremity the mouth, in the form of a transverse slit bounded by 

 soft lips. The upper lip is divided by a longitudinal cleft, running 

 backwards to the nostrils, and exposing the chisel-shaped incisor- 

 teeth. Behind the incisor teeth the hairy integument projects on 

 each side into the cavity of the mouth. At the end of the snout, 

 above the mouth, are the nostrils, in the shape of two oblique slits. 

 The large eyes, situated at the sides of the head, have each three 

 eyelids, an upper and a lower hairy lid, and an anterior hairless third 

 eyelid or nictitating membrane, supported by a plate of cartilage. 

 Vibrissce very long stiff hairs are scattered above and below the 

 eyes and on the snout. Behind the eyes and a little nearer the 

 summit of the head, are a pair of very long flexible and movable 



FIG. 1017. Lepus cuniculus. Lateral view of skeleton with outline of body. 



external ears or pinnce. These are somewhat spout-shaped, expand- 

 ing distally, and are usually placed vertically with the concavity, 

 directed laterally and somewhat forwards, leading to the external 

 auditory opening. The neck is a distinct constriction, but rela- 

 tively short as compared with the neck of the Pigeon. The trunk 

 is distinguishable into thorax in front and abdomen behind. On 

 the ventral surface of the abdomen in the female are four or five 

 pairs of little papillae the teats. At its posterior end, below the 

 root of the tail, is the anal opening, and in front of this in the 

 male is the penis, with a small terminal urino genital aperture, and 

 with the testes, each in a prominent scrotal sac, at the sides : and 

 in the female the opening of the vulva. In the space (perinceum) 

 between anus and penis or vulva are two bare, depressed areas of 

 skin into which open the ducts of certain glands the per incut 1 

 glands with a secretion having a strong and characteristic odour. 

 The tail is very short and covered with a tuft of fluffy fur. 



The fore and hind limbs, both of which take part in locomotion 

 and in supporting the weight of the animal, differ considerably in 



