124 mammals of the pacific world 



Rabbits and Hares. Family Leporid^ 



The Arctic Hare (Lepus poadromus) is likely to be present 

 on the landward Aleutians. This is a large hare, about two feet 

 in total length, and heavily built. In winter the animals become 

 white, excepting only the black-tipped ears, while in summer 

 they are dull grayish brown, with white hind feet. The short 

 ears measure about three and one-fourth inches from the notch. 

 Arctic hares are larger as a rule than our snowshoe rabbits and 

 the Eurasian varying hare. They differ little from those 

 animals. 



They form one of the principal foods of foxes, wolves, and 

 great snowy owls in the regions where they are found. The sea- 

 sonal change in color aids them to escape from their enemies ; 

 their summer coat blends with the vegetation and their winter 

 coat makes them almost invisible on the snow, so long as they 

 stay still. 



Eurasian Varying Hares (Lepus timidus) resemble American 

 snowshoe rabbits. Their color is dull grayish brown in summer 

 and white in winter excepting the tips of the ears. The head 

 and body length is about twenty inches ; the ears measure about 

 three and one-half inches from the crown of the head. This 

 species ranges from Scotland and the Scandinavian Peninsula 

 through Siberia to the northern Japanese Islands and the 

 Kuriles. 



The Japanese Hare (Lepus hrachyurus) occurs on the south- 

 ern Japanese Islands. It has short ears — ^less than three inches 

 long — and is a little smaller than our varying hare. Its color is 

 dull brown, with the head, neck, belly, and limbs russet. The tail 

 is scarcely longer than the hair of the rump ; it is brownish above 

 and dull whitish below. 



The Black-naped Hare {Lepus nigricollis) was introduced 

 into Java from Ceylon or India. This species is dull brown, 

 mixed with blackish on the sides and back, becoming paler on 

 the feet. A band of blackish brown forms a collar around the 



