334 MISCELLANY. 



the external characters of the Irish and Common Hares. His account will be 

 found in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society for July 23, 1833, since which 

 time Mr. Bell, in his History of British Quadrupeds, has described both of 

 them, characterizing the Irish Hare under the name of Lepus Hibernicus. I am 

 not, however, aware that any observations on the anatomical distinctions of the 

 two species have been made public. With a view, therefore, of filling up the 

 blank to a certain degree, this paper is written. 



On placing the skeletons of the two species in juxtaposition, the most obvious 

 distinguishing characters are, the greater size altogether of the skeleton, the 

 greater length of the lateral processes of the lumbar vertebrae, the superior 

 breadth of the scapula, the greater breadth of the ribs, the greater length of the 

 humerus in proportion to that of the ulna (which is scarcely longer than in the 

 Common Hare), together with the much larger size of the cranium and inferior 

 maxillary bones in the Irish Hare. These differences would probably distinguish it 

 as a species distinct from the Common Hare did no other characters exist. 



In the numbering of the vertebrae and ribs they do not differ, except as to the 

 caudal ones, which in the Irish Hare are 13, and in the English 16 ; the sacral 

 in both are 4, the lumbar 7, the dorsal 12, and the cervical 7, making the total 

 number in the Irish Hare 43, and in the Common Hare 46. 



The ribs in each species are 12. The males of both species are smaller than 

 the females in all their admeasurements. The intestinal canal is in the male of 

 the Irish Hare nearly two feet shorter than in the female. — Thomas Campbell 

 Eyton, Esq., of Eyton Castle, near Shrewsbury, in the Mag. of Zool. and 

 Bot, Vol II., p. 283. 



Notes on the Thrushes (Turdus, Antiq.). — About the end of November 

 large flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing Thrushes may often be seen intermixed. 

 They generally frequent hedges abounding with hips, haws, and other berries, 

 and are particularly partial to large trees growing out of hedgerows. They 

 admit of a near approach,* the whole flock sometimes passing directly over your 

 head. They seldom quit the trees simultaneously (unless unusually alarmed), but 

 more generally in straggling companies, the Fieldfares being readily distinguished 

 by their superior length, chattering note, and less even flight. With regard 

 to the latter particular, it may be observed, that there is a gradation in the 

 regularity of the flight of the genus, from the Missel Thrush, in which it is 

 -extremely loose and irregular, to the Garden Thrush, which bears a more inti- 

 mate resemblance, in this respect, to the neighbouring species of the Sylviadce. 



* It is to be observed that all birds — even those most persecuted by man — admit of a nearer 

 approach, ceteris paribus, on horseback than on foot. If, however, birds of any species are fre- 

 quently shot by horsemen, of course they soon become comparatively shy of equestrians too — Ed. 



