SPECIES OF MAMMALS OF THE PACIFIC AREA 125 



neck, whence its name is derived. In size and proportions it is 

 not very different from the American snowshoe rabbit. 



The Formosan Hare {Caprolagus formosus) is closely re- 

 lated to the harsh-furred hare of southern China. Its color is 

 grayish drab, mixed with black, the tips of the hairs mostly 

 buffy. Its dimensions nearly equal those of our cottontails, the 

 tail being shorter but the other proportions similar. 



The Luchu Islands Rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) has only 

 five upper cheek-teeth, instead of the usual six in this family. Its 

 color is very dark brownish black, with an admixture of buffy, 

 becoming mahogany-colored on the rump ; the feet and tail are 

 yellowish brown. The back has a jet-black stripe extending 

 from the neck to the beginning of the mahogany color on the 

 rump. The ears are proportionately short (less than two inches 

 in length), but the body is about the size of the American snow- 

 shoe rabbit ; the hind feet are smaller. This rabbit, known only 

 from a few specimens, is one of the rarest mammals in museum 

 collections. 



The Sumatran Hare (Nesolagus netscheri), of peculiarly 

 striped appearance, is grayish yellow on the front parts, gradu- 

 ally becoming rich mahogany-brown on the haunches. A black 

 stripe begins at the nose and runs the whole length of the ani- 

 mal ; it broadens between the ears, and on each side a black band 

 runs forward from the back of the neck onto the cheeks. A 

 black stripe extends back from the shoulders to join the dorsal 

 stripe near the haunches and yet another black band comes up 

 from the groins a little behind this. The outersides of the thighs 

 are black, as is also a band around each hind foot. The fur is 

 short and woolly and the ears are short — about one and one- 

 half inches in length. This rabbit is a little larger than the 

 cottontails of the United States. 



The European Rabbit {Oryctolagus)^ introduced into Aus- 

 tralia in 1788, has since assumed the proportions of a first-class 

 pest, having destroyed enormous acreages of grazing lands. 

 Certain values have eventually emerged : rabbit fur is made into 



