i68 



LEPORID^: 



only by time, climate, and food supplies. The increase is, there- 

 fore, rapid. There seems to be some correlation between fertility 

 and latitude ; that is to say, northern forms produce fewer but 

 larcre litters, whereas with southern forms the breeding season 

 is almost perpetual. 



Superfoetation has long been known and mentioned by many 

 writers, including Herodotus (born B.C., 484 ; History, bk. 

 iii., ch. cviii.), Aristotle (born B.C. 384; Historia Animalutm, 

 ed.' Thompson, v., 9, 542 s , 33, 1910; Pliny, 1 and Sir Thomas 

 Browne. The truth is, that in animals with a double uterus 

 such phenomena are possible, but apparently of quite rare 

 occurrence (see under the species), or they would be more 

 frequently reported. 



Voice :— Although usually supposed to be silent animals, the 

 members of this family possess a comparatively varied vocabu- 

 lary, the sounds in which they indulge varying from grunts to 

 loud screams. 



A remarkable stamping of the hind feet as an expression of 

 excitement is characteristic of all British species, and probably 

 of many exotic also, since it is practised by the American L. 

 americanus (see below, under Scottish Hare). 



Tracks and spoor:— These are very characteristic. When 

 seen clearly, as on snow or mud, the pattern suggests a series 

 of roughly formed, somewhat triangular figures, with more or 

 less space between each. The sides are not filled in, but the 

 positions of the angles are marked by the impressions of the 

 four feet. Those of the two hind feet, which are long, mark 

 the base of the triangle, while the two roughly spherical marks 

 of the fore feet show the apex. When the animal is at rest 

 the whole hind foot presses the ground so that the mark made 

 is approximately the length of the foot. The fore feet then 

 make contact either between the hind feet or only slightly in 

 front of them, so that no triangle can then be traced, or it is 

 very flat, and its apex points in the direction in which the 

 animal is moving. When the animal begins to run, much 

 lesser portions of the long hind feet touch the ground ; but 



1 Lepus omnium praede nascens, solus praeter dasypodem superfoetat, aliud 

 educans, aliud in utero pilis vestitum, aliud implume, aliud inchoatum gerens pariter — 

 Naturalis Historia^ viii., 55. 



