LEPUS 513 



head and body, 490 (483-495) ; tail, 92 (80-100) ; hind foot, 

 122-5 (117-127). For cranial measurements see Table, p. 520. 



Specimens examined. — Twelve, from the following localities : — 

 Crete, 5. 

 Cephalonia, 7. 



Remarks. — While resembling the brown races of Lepus 

 europseus the Cretan hare is readily distinguishable by its smaller 

 size and relatively somewhat larger ears. 



2. Crete. H. O. Jones, R.N. (c). 99. 2. 14. 1-2. 



1. Crete. H. 0. Jones, R.N. (p). 2. 11. 9. 1. 



{Type of species.) 



i. Kanea, Crete. Miss D. Bate (c). 5. 12. 2. 34. 



i, 4 9. Mt. Vuno, Cephalonia, J. I. S. Whitaker (p). 8. 10. 1. 52-56. 

 Greece. (C. Mottaz.) 



6,9. Mt. Vuno, Cephalonia. C. Mottaz (c). 8.11.3.20-21. 



LEPUS MEDITERRANEUS Wagner. 



1841. Lepus 7nediterraneus Wagner, Miinch. Gelehrt. Anzeiger, p. 439, 

 March 17, 1841. 



1857. ILepus timidus'] a. Siideuropaische Form, Blasius, Sjiugethiere 

 Deutschlands, p. 417 (part). 



1898. Lepus mcditerranetis de Winton, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 7th 

 ser., I, p. 154, February, 1898. 



1906. L[epus'] m[_editerraneus'\ tijpicus Hilzheimer, Zool. Anzeiger, xxx, 

 p. 512, August, 1906. 



1910. Lepus viediterraneus Trouessart, Fanne Mamm. d'Europe, p. 224. 



Typ)e locality. — Sardinia. 



Geographical distribution. — Sardinia. 



Diagnosis. — Smallest of the European hares (hind foot, 93 to 

 103 ; occipitonasal length of skull, 81 • 4 to 87 mm.) ; colour much 

 as in Lepus granatensis, but white of underparts encroached on by 

 ochraceous-buff of sides, and not extending on legs, the inner 

 and outer surfaces of which are not evidently contrasted. 



Colour. — Back essentially as in Lepus granatensis granatensis, 

 but elements more intimately blended, and ground colour a more 

 yellowish cream-buff, this slightly in excess of black. Underfur 

 with dull buff sub-terminal area (5 mm.) and black tips (4 mm.) 

 well defined, the bases of the hairs bluish grey (about the pearl- 

 grey of Ridgway). Sides with wide and noticeable clear buffy area 

 (the exact shade darker and more yellow than the ochraceous-buft 

 of Ridgway), strongly incroaching on white of underparts, and 

 continuous with inguinal patches and inner svirface of legs, on 

 fore legs becoming slightly paler, and on hind legs more yellow. 

 On outer surface of legs and dorsal surface of feet this colour 

 darkens so as to form a conspicuous contrast with cream-buff of 

 back, though there is no evident line of demarcation between the 

 two surfaces of the legs. Rump slightly more buflfy than back. 



2 L 



