886 THE JOHN DAY FAUNA. 



of this genus, now so widely distributed over the earth. Species of Lepus 

 are reported by Gervais from the Miocene (Montabuzard) and PHocene 

 (Montpelier) of France. 



Lepus ennisianus Cope. 



Bulletin U. S. Geol. Snrv. Terrs., IV, 1881, p. 385. American Naturalist, 1883, p. 174, fig. 21. 



Plate LXVI, page 29. 



This species is abundant in the Miocene beds of the John Day River, 

 Oregon, associated with a species which I cannot distinguish from the Palaeo- 

 lagus liaydeni. The Lefiis ennisianus exceeds the last-named species in dimen- 

 sions, being intermediate between it and the Palaeolagus turgidus. 



The form of the skull and character of the postorbital processes refer 

 this species to the neighborhood of the Lepus auduboni and L. hachmani} 

 The former has the general outline of that of Lepus sylvaficus, with which 

 it nearly agrees in size. The postorbital processes are free and shorter and 

 narrower than those of the L. auduhoni. The supraorbital notch is insig- 

 nificant, and is not bounded by either an angle of the border or a process. 

 Behind the postorbital processes the cranium is narrower. The parietal 

 region is convex in both directions. The interorbital and base of the nasal 

 region are flat The middle of the superior part of the occipital projects 

 table-like beyond the lateral portions, as in recent rabbits. The otic bulla 

 is large and is flattened on the external side. The mastoid presents some 

 subvertical grooves. The paroccipital process is rather short and is tumed 

 backwards at the apex. 



The mandible has much the form of that of L. sylvaticus, with certain 

 diff"erences. A slight convexity of the anterior border of the ascending 

 ramus is the only trace of coronoid process. The posterior border of the 

 same projects very little behind the condyle, and is but slightly concave 

 below that point. The inferior border of the masseteric fossa' terminates 

 below the anterior border of the base of the coronoid process, which is 

 posterior to the corresponding position in L. sylvaticus. Here the masset- 

 eric fossa extends as far forwards as the line of the posterior part of the 

 fourth inferior molar. 



'See Baird, Miimmalia of the V. S., Pac. R. R. Surveys, VIII, p. 574. 



