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LEPUS GRANATENSIS Rosenhauer. 



(Synonymy under subspecies.) 



Geographical distribution. — Iberian Peninsula and Balearic 

 Islands. Exact northern limits of range not known. 



Diagnosis. — Size rather small, about as in Lepiis corsicamis, 

 and L. creticus (hind foot, 115-120; occipitonasal length of 

 skull about 80-90 mm.) ; colour differing from that of all the 

 other European hares, except the much smaller L. merliterraneus, 

 in the bright, reddish colour of the outer surface of the thighs, 

 which forms the marked contrast with buffy of back ; inner 

 surface of legs normally white, the line of demarcation very 

 sharply defined ; doi'sal surface of feet and wrists marked with 

 pure white ; lengthened whitish hairs on sides A'ery conspicuous. 

 Mammse as in L. europseiis. 



Colour. — Upper parts bufFy underlaid on back with blackish, 

 the two colours forming a coarse mixture, varying considerably 

 according to condition of pelage, but the bufty always in excess. 

 On sides the black gradually disappears, leaving a narrow, nearly 

 clear bufFy line bordering white of underparts. Rump usually 

 concolor with back, but sometimes tinged with grey. Sides 

 with a very conspicuous sprinkling of hairs about 50 mm. in 

 length, their basal portion blackish, the terminal half white. 

 Tail as in Lepus europseus. Nape patch usually small and ill- 

 defined. Head essentially like body but with the darker and 

 lighter colours finely blended. Cheeks and crown alike ; eye-ring 

 about as in L. europseus, but pale area before and behind eye 

 barely indicated, and no distinct rusty suffusion below eye ; 

 muzzle clear dull buffy ; a darker area at base of whiskers. Ear 

 as in Lepus europseus, but colour pattern more strongly defined 

 and black tei'minal area usually, though not always, more 

 extensive ; outer border conspicuously rimmed with whitish. 

 Outer surface of thigh conspicuously brighter than body, its 

 colour approaching cinnamon-rufous and very sharply contrasted 

 with the pure white of inner surface of leg. Outer surface of 

 fore leg not so bright as that of thigh but forming a strong 

 contrast with sides of body. Inguinal patch dull ochraceous- 

 rufous. Collar a dark, scarcely grizzled buffy. Rest of under- 

 parts a peculiarly snowy white, the white area unusually wide and 

 well defined, extending down hind leg and covering dorsal surface 

 of foot to base of claws, and usually though not always extending 

 similarly on front leg to wrist where a white spot is invariably 

 present. Soles an indefinite buffy brown. 



Skull and teeth. — The skull of Lepus granatensis is rather 

 small, the occipitonasal length seldom exceeding 90 mm. In 

 form it differs from that of the other European hares in the less 

 deflection of the brain-case, and consequently less strong convexity 

 of the dorsal profile, a character not easily defined but readily 



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