Dr. N. Severtzoff on the Mammals of Turl-estan. 169 



60. Lepus Lehmannij sp. n.* 



The first specimens of this hare were obtained by M. 

 Lehmann from the Syr-Darja and the eastern shore of the 

 Caspian, for the Academy of Sciences. They were attributed 

 to L. tolai by Prof. Brandt, on account of their small size and 

 the characteristic black edge round the ears. The examination 

 of living specimens, however, does not confirm that determi- 

 nation. In shape and colour L. LeJimanni is much nearer to 

 the European L. timidus than to L. tolaij forming an inter- 

 mediate form between them which must be regarded as a 

 separate species on account of its constant characters, which 

 are alike in the specimens inhabiting the juniper trees of the 

 Thian JShan, just below the snow-region, and those which are 

 found on the warm shores of the Caspian. 



It is a small hare, and weighs not more than 5 or 6 pounds. 

 Length (tail excluded) 17-18 inches. The ears are longer than 

 the head ; if bent forward along the side of the head, they 

 extend beyond it about 6-7 lines. Tail as long as the 

 head, or only a little shorter. The hind legs are twice as 

 long as the front legs, and are a little longer than the body 

 measured from the shoulders to the root of the tail. Therefore 

 the proportional measurements of the ears and legs are similar 

 to those of L. timidus and its varieties [L. aqidlonius^ L. cas- 

 pius) ; but the tail varies, and is sometimes shorter than the 

 head, as in L. tolai, Avhich difters in its much shorter ears and 

 legs. The colour is just like that of L. timidus ; the shoulders 

 and back are yellowish grey-brown ; each hair is marked with 

 black and light yellowish brown rings ; the flanks are lighter, 

 in summer they are yellowish grey, and ash-coloured in winter ; 

 the nose, cheeks, and tip of the head are grey j the nape of 

 the neck is greyish yellow, with soft unicolorous hair; the throat 

 and breast as far as the front legs are greyish yellow, the hair 

 being brownish yellow with grey tips ; in summer the under 

 fur on the coloured portions of the animal is light broAvn- 

 grey, and in winter grey ; the tail is white with a broad black 

 line on the upper portion ; tlie belly is white. L. tolai has, 

 besides the belly, also the throat and tip of the head white. 



The ears of L. Lehmanni, as already stated, ai-e in colour 

 similar to those of L. tolai — namely, greyish white, with a wide 

 centre line of the colour of the back on the exterior, and with 

 a narrow black edge on the terminal half of the ear ; whilst 

 in L. timidus, with the same coloured ears, this black edge 



* [ Cf. Lepus pamirensi'< and L. yarkandensis, Giinther, Ann. & Mag. 

 Nat. Hist. ser. 4, xvi. p. 22i) ; L. Stoliezkanus, Blanford, Journ. Asiat. 

 Soc. Beng. xliv. p. 110, and L. hypsibhis, id., to7n. cit. p. 214. — E. R. A.] 



