334 LEPORID^E— LEPUS 



teeth. The above cranial and dental features are emphasised in the 

 late pleistocene L. anglicus. 



Exceptional variation: — Blackish or sooty varieties occur occasion- 

 ally, and several instances are on record, e.g. : — one, Co. Kildare 

 (Thompson) ; another, same county, December 1889, with the central 

 dorsal region black fading into blackish grey on the flanks, but 

 the sides of the mouth and a small space around the eyes normal 

 (E. Williams, Zoologist, 1890, 70); one, described as " perfectly black," 

 shot near Belturbet, Co. Cavan, in 1878 (Williams and Sons, Zoologist, 

 1878, 434); one, at Garrycloon, Ballina, Co. Mayo, 1892, examined 

 by me at Williams and Sons; a breeding doe, weighing 8 lbs. 10 oz., 

 now in the British Museum, purchased, Waterford, 7th January 191 1 ; 

 one in the Dublin Museum from Queen's Co. ; and there have been 

 others (see Dennehy, Field, 27th May 1905, 905). 



A well-marked buff variety, first reported by A. Williams from the 

 midlands, and also noticed in Galway (Millais), became numerous 

 along the coast from Malahide to Balbriggan, Co. Dublin. The 

 upper side is rich buff, the under side white, the eyes pale straw-yellow 

 with a greenish tint, and the black ear-tips are absent. The variety 

 appears to breed at least partially true, since mother and young have 

 been taken together (E. Williams, Zoologist, 1890, 70-71) ; for this reason 

 I named it Lepus timidus lutescens (see Synonymy), but the name has not 

 been accepted, and the variety can hardly be regarded as of subspecific 

 value. It crops up occasionally amongst the Irish Hares introduced 

 into the island of Mull, and has been noticed amongst Scottish Hares 

 at Tellyfour, Aberdeen (see Haggard, Field, 31st October, 693 ; Fenton, 

 Jonrn. cit., 21st November 1896, 814). 



A permanently grey or whitish variety (of which a specimen is in 

 the Dublin Museum), without black ear-tips, but with pigmented eyes, 

 arose in Co. Armagh as the produce of a single white individual. This 

 was first observed as a leveret in 1885, and in 1887 was netted and 

 turned down at Castle Dillon, where, the same year (according to G. D. 

 Beresford), it produced two leverets, one grey and white, the other 

 white like the original. In 1890 there were seven hares, evidently bred 

 from the white hare — six white, and one a parti-coloured grey and 

 white animal. Four died during the winter and spring, and there were 

 left in July 1891 three, the original hare, another white one, and the 

 parti-coloured one already mentioned. These hares never changed 

 colour, but always remained the same as when born. In 1891 no 

 leverets were born, and the old doe was then about seven years 

 old. 



Both old and young may exhibit the white frontal spots already 

 mentioned as occurring in the other British species of Leporidce. 



Sexual differences are very evident in this species, the males having 



