LEPUS 527 



1857. Lepus variabilis b. Form der Mittelregion und der Alpen, Blasius, 



Saugethiere Deutschlands, p. 424 (part). 

 1910. Lepus timidus and L. timidus collinus Trouessart, Faune Mamm. 



d'Europe, p. 216. 



Type locality. — Upsala, Sweden. 



Geographical distribution. — Scandinavian Peninsula. 



Diagnosis. — Largest of the varying hares of western Europe, 

 the occipitonasal length of adult skulls ranging from 95 to 

 103 mm. 



Measurements. — Adult from Helsingland, Sweden : hind foot, 

 150 ; ear, 94. Adult male from Stockholm, Sweden : hind 

 foot, 155 ; ear from crown, 105. Adult male from Hellestad, 

 Ostergotland, Sweden: hind foot, 151 ; ear from crown, 99. For 

 cranial measurements see Table, p. 532. 



Specimens examined. — Thirty-two, from the following localities : — 

 Sweden : Helsingland, 1 (U.S.N.M.) ; Kronon, Vesterbotten, 7 



(U.S.N.JI.) ; northern Sweden, no exact locality, 1 skeleton (U.S.N.M.) ; 



near Stockholm, 1 (U.S.N.M.); Furusund, Stockholm, 13 (U.S.N.M.); 



Hellestad, Ostergotland, 1 (U.S.N.M.) ; Lund, Skftne, 1 (U.S.N.M.) ; no 



exact locality, 1. 



Norway : Hammerfest, 1 ; Enebek, 1 ; Bidsvold, Christiania, 2 ; 



near Christiania, 1 ; Jsederen, Stavanger, 1 ; Holme, Mandal, 2. 



Remarlcs. — The typical form of Lepus timidus is readily 

 distinguishable from the Alpine and Scotch races by its larger 

 size, particularly as shown by the length of the skull. Whether 

 more than one local race should be recognized among the 

 Scandinavian members of the species must still be i-egarded as 

 an open question owing to the absence of adequate material. It 

 appears to be a fact, however, that the grey winter coat, though 

 not invariably assumed by the animals of the region where it 

 occurs, is met with nowhere except in southern Sweden and the 

 extreme south of Norway west to Jtederen. Correlated with the 

 occurrence of the grey winter coat appears to be the tendency 

 for the black at tip of ear to spread downward from the rim and 

 form a noticeable patch on outer surface. The names sylvaticus 

 and canescens of Nilsson were based on the southern animal, 

 while the horealis and collinus of the same author were ajiplied to 

 the northern form.* 



Stockholm Museum (e). 46. G. 2. 73. 



Christiania Museum (e). 93. 3. 1. 21. 



Christiania Museum (e). 0. 2. 7. 1-2. 



Christiania Museum (e). 93. 3. 1. 20. 



Christiania Museum (e). 0. 5. 2. 2. 



R. J. Cuninghame (c & p). 8. 8. 9. 38-89. 



♦ A good account of the two races is given by Collett, Norges Pattedyr, 

 pp. 58-69, 1911. 



