98 MitltrTlte Alpine Varying Hare. 



Switzerland, December 5, 1900, by Ernst H. Zollikofer. Original num 

 ber, 19(5. 



Characters. In winter pelage (summer coat not seen) externally simi 

 lar to Lepux timidus Linnams. Skull and teeth smaller and much less 

 robust than in the Swedish animal. 



Color. The winter pelage is pure white throughout, to base of hairs, 

 though usually with an inconspicuous sprinkling of black hairs on back 

 and tail. Ears faintly clouded with grayish brown along anterior mar 

 gin, and conspicuously tipped with black. The black area is about 12 

 mm. in width, but its boundaries are not clearly denned, and it is notice 

 ably sprinkled with white hairs. A very narrow line of short black 

 hairs borders the eyelids. Whiskers mixed white and black. Soles of 

 feet yellowish brown. Claws rather dark horn-color. 



Skull. The skull of Lepus varroni* is readily distinguishable from 

 that of L. timid-UN by its much smaller size. In fully adult males of the 

 alpine hare the skull is barely larger than in females from the Helsing- 

 land, Sweden, while as compared with males from the same locality the 

 basal length is about 12 mm. less. Aside from its si/e the skull shows 

 numerous differences in form. It is in general less robust and more 

 slender, particularly in the rostral portion. The supraorbital processes 

 are smaller and narrower than in the Swedish animal, a difference 

 which is especially noticeable when skulls of males are compared, but 

 which is also evident in the females. The audital bull* are relatively 

 a trifle smaller than in Leputt timidus and the cribriform portion of the 

 floor of the braincase immediately in front of each, is less flattened, 



Teeth. The teeth are smaller than in Leputt timictuN, but I can detect 

 no tangible differences in form. 



Measurements. External measurements of type: total length, 582; 

 tail vertebra 1 , 58: hind foot, 1(54. 



Cranial measurements of type: greatest length, 92 (103)*; basal length, 

 77 (8(5); basilar length, 70(79): henselion to posterior edge of bony pelate, 

 84 (40); least (lateral) length of bony palate, (5. (5 (7): posterior edge of 

 bony palate to hamular, 28 (25): length of incisive foramen, 23 (27); 

 greatest breadth of incisive foramen, 9 (10.4); diastema, 27 (31); zygo- 

 matic breadth, 4(5 (53); least interorbital breadth, 1(5 (17): greatest 

 breadth of braincase, 32 (34); greatest- breadth of both nasals together, 

 19 (23); least breadth of both nasals together, 13 (1(5.4): greatest (diago 

 nal) length of nasals. 39 (40): depth of braincase at anterior end of 

 basioccipital, 27(80,;; maxillary molar series (alveolij, 17 (20): mandible, 

 (57 ^78); diastema, 20 (25): mandibular molar series (alveoli), 18 (21). 



Specimens examined. Five, all from the Canton of (iraubiinden. 



Remark*. The Alpine hare differs from the varying hares of northern 

 Europe in the characters that would be expected to result from its rela 

 tively limited range and the less favorable conditions under which it 

 doubtless exists. 



*Measurements in parenthesis are those of an adult male Lepus timi- 

 is from Helsingland, Sweden. 



