504 DHE RABBLE OR ePOL@CARE PEAS CHAP. 
pointed out by Professor W. N. Parker.’ These differences have 
led some to approve of its separation from the Hares into a genus 
Oryctolagus. This animal is believed to be an introduced species, 
and to have been brought by man into these islands. Its original 
‘home is the Spanish Peninsula, the south of France, Algiers, and 
some of the Mediterranean islands. Mr. Lydekker thinks that 
the only other species of Zepus which can be considered to be a 
“Rabbit ” is the Asiatic LZ. hiswidus. 
Of Hares there are two species in this country. The Common 
Hare, L. europaeus (the name L. timidus seems to be really 
applicable to another species to be referred to presently), extends 
all over Europe excepting the extreme north of Russia and 
Scandinavia. It is not known in Ireland, and, curiously enough, 
attempts to acclimatise this animal in that island have failed—a 
state of affairs which contrasts with the ‘fatal ease with which 
the Rabbit has been introduced into Australia. Ireland has, 
however, the Variable Hare, Z. timidus (also called LZ. variabilis), 
a species which is common in other parts of Europe, and which 
extends as far east as Japan. This species differs from its ally 
by the fact that it often turns white in winter with the ex- 
ception of the black tips to the ears. In Ireland this change 
does not always occur; but Mr. Barrett-Hamilton has commented 
upon the fact that Hares of this species do change on Trish 
mountains. It appears that in this animal the change from the 
winter to the summer dress is accomplished by the actual casting 
off of the white hairs and their replacement by a fresh growth 
of “blue” hairs. A similar change occurs in the American 
L. americanus. 
Dr. Forsyth Major has noted the fact that the various species 
of Hares can be distinguished by the condition of the furrows 
upon the upper incisors. Thus two African species, LZ. erawshayt 
and L. whytei, are to be separated by the fact that in the former 
the incisors are quite flat, whereas in Z. whytei the groove is 
more prominent and there is a second shallow furrow. 
The genus Romerolagus* is quite a recent discovery. It 
occurs on the slopes of Popocatepetl in Mexico; it has the 
general aspect of the last genus, and is spoken of as a “ Rabbit.” 
It inhabits runs in the long grass which clothes the sides of the 
1 Proc. Zool. Soc. 1881, p. 624. 
* Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, x. 1896, p. 169. 
