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DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW HARES FROM EGYPT. 



By W. E. DE WINTON. 



TN completing the volume on tlie Mammals of Egyjit, which is to form the second 

 -L volume of Ur. Anderson's Fauna of Ktjijpt, very much difficulty has been 

 exjierienced in obtaining the necessary material. The hares have been a jieculiar 

 difficulty ; and, on hearing of my trouble, Mr. N. Charles Rothschild came forward 

 and very kindly assisted me. Through the aid of some native shikaris, he not only 

 succeeded in obtaining a nice series of a species of hare, but also sjjecimens of other 

 mammals of whicli I was in need — notably a very small shrew, which, sii far as 

 I am aware, has never been recorded in a living state, and its existence was only 

 previously known from mummified remains. 



Another friend who has taken much trouble in obtaining specimens of which 

 I stood in need is I)r. Walter lunes, Bey. It gives me great satisfaction to l)e able 

 to signify my indebtedness to those two naturalists by naming the two following 

 very interesting and distinct species of hares in their honour : — 



Lepus rothschildi sj). no\-. 



Size slightly smaller than L. acyi/ptius, but form much more robust. Ears 

 rather large and broad, measuring about lA times the length of the head. Legs 

 apparently rather short, feet large and broad, with very thick hairy cushions. Fur 

 far more dense and longer than in any other Egyptian species, with conspicuous 

 long white hairs on the shoulders and sides. General colour ])ale isabelliiie fawn, 

 strongly washed with black on the back and on the front of the head ; nape very 

 pale isabelline. Borders of the ears pale whitish buff, rather more fawn towards 

 the tips ; well-marked black tip behind. The tail is long, and ]iurely black and 

 white. The legs only slightly more juire isabelline than the sides of the body ; feet 

 very pale-coloured. 



Measurements taken from specimens in skin : Head and body {<■), 4'Jii mm. : 

 tail (<?), 73, with hair, 9."); hind-foot {<■), imi ; ear from crown (c), Kfn, iVoni 

 notch (c), 118. 



