264 



Mr. Thompson on the Irish Hare. 



somewhat paler, and close round the eye, where 

 it is very dull white ; of this colour also is the 

 under surface of the head. 



Ears presenting anteriorly a mixture of black 

 and reddish-grey ; posteriorly greyish, becoming 

 gradually paler to the margin, which for two- 

 thirds from the base is white ; extreme tip (about 

 six lines) black, which colour extends down the 

 posterior margin for about one-third the length 

 of ear. 



Back and upper portion oi sides, dull reddish- 

 grey ; under surface of neck pale grey ; lower 

 parts, from between the fore legs to tip of tail, 

 white, except at inner base of hind legs, which 

 are of a very pale grey ; upper portion of tail* 

 white, with a few black hairs towards the base, 

 giving that part a sullied or impure tinge. 



Fore legs, dull reddish-brown in front and 

 outer sides ; inner and hinder portion white, 

 which colour comes forward transversely on the 

 outer sides of the legs just above the foot, which 

 is brown. Sides of hinder legs greyish, tinged 

 anteriorly with yellowish-brown ; of this colour 

 a stripe extends from the tarsal joint to the mid- 

 dle toe, and is bounded on both sides by white ; 

 entire base from tarsal joint to toe-claws dull 

 greyish brown, inner portion of same part whitish ; 

 this varied marking more or less conspicuous in 

 different individuals. 



Lips greyish ; whiskers uniformly white or 

 black, or of both colours ; irides dark hazel. 



anterior point of upper surface of the eye, be- 

 coming broader posteriorly, and extending more 

 than halfway from the eye to the base of the ear. 



Ears presenting anteriorly a mixture of black 

 and reddish-grey ; medial portion pure reddish- 

 brown, which colour does not appear in the ears 

 of the Irish species ; posteriorly, from base, for 

 about two-thirds their length, whitish, thence to 

 tip black, of which colour a narrow marginal line 

 extends downwards to middle of ear. 



Back and upper portion of sides mottled with 

 a pale-reddish colour and black, the former pre- 

 dominating ; towards the lower portion of the 

 sides the pale reddish-brown, or rich cinnamon 

 colour, only appears, and this alone prevails on 

 both sides of the neck, and on its lower portion ; 

 entire under surface, from between the fore 

 legs to the tip of tail, white, except at inner base 

 of hind legs, where a pale cinnamon colour 

 prevails. 



Fm'e legs dark reddish-brown in front and 

 outer sides ; inner and hinder portion a very pale 

 red and white intermixed. Hind legs, to tarsal 

 joint, of a grey and very pale red combined ; 

 from thence to middle toe reddish-brown, which 

 colour becomes gradually paler posteriorly ; inner 

 portion of same part whitish. 



Lips blackish ; whiskers uniformly white or 

 black, or of both colours; irides dark hazel. 



* It is singular that this, the most obvious of all the differences in colour between the two species, 

 should have been quite unnoticed by the several authors who have written on the Irish hare, more 

 especially as the colour of the tail is always one of the few leading characters given of Lepus timidus, 

 both by British and Continental authors. On questioning some of the Belfast dealers in hares as to 

 their means of knowing the two species, I found that the difference of colour in the tail was one of 

 their marks of distinction ; — with every external character indeed, they are, and always have been, 

 quite familiar. 



