380 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1899. 



DESCEIPTIONS OF SIX NEW AMERICAN RABBITS. 

 BY GERRIT S. MILLER, JR. 



The collection of rabbits in the United States National Museum 

 contains the following hitherto undescribed forms, all from parts 

 of America north of Panama. I publish this paper here by per- 

 mission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



Subgenus MACROTOLAGUS Mearns. 

 Lepus asellus sp- nov. 



Tijpe adult ? (skin and skull), No. ff;ft| United States National 

 Museum, collected at the city of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, October 

 22, 1891, by P. L. Jouy. Original number, 270. 



General Characters. — In size and color most like Lepus merriami 

 Mearns, but tail shorter and ears much longer, the latter fully 

 equalling those of the largest L. texianus. Nape scarcely darker 

 than back. Skull slightly heavier than in Lepus merriami, the 

 nasals broader, and the audital bulh^s larger. 



Color. — Back an irregular grizzle of black and white, darker 

 along median line. Sides and rump slightly paler than back. 

 Tail entirely clear black above, grayish white beneath. The black 

 caudal area is continued forward over rump, gradually becoming 

 narrower, and finally disappearing about 80 mm. from base of 

 tail. Nape like back, only more finely grizzled. A small dusky 

 area immediately beliind base of ear. Ears broccoli brown, paler 

 behind, rimmed with buff. The bufi* rim is continuous except 

 where interrupted by the black tip. It is paler along outer margin 

 (near base of which it becomes nearly white), and darker along 

 inner margin, where the hairs are noticeably lengthened. Tip of 

 ear black, the dark area about 40 mm. long and at base 25 mm. 

 in width. It lies mostly on the outer half of the ear. Posterior 

 base of ear blackish for about 20 mm. Crown of head like back, 

 but more closely grizzled. Cheeks like sides. An indistinct, nar- 

 row, pale area surroundiug eye. Chin, upper part of throat and 

 whole of belly white, very faintly tinged with bluish gray. Neck 

 ruff well developed, buff sprinkled with a few blackish hairs. 



