1368 THE RODENTS 



Kennicott states that it "is very prolific, producing young three or four times a year, 

 and usually from four to six at a birth. In open ground the female scratches a 

 shallow hollow, in which to bring forth her young. In this she forms a nest of soft 

 leaves and grasses, well lined with fur from her own body; and when she is absent 

 the young are always completely covered and concealed in the nest, which they leave 

 at an early age, and separate from the mother as soon as able to take care of them- 

 selves." The Brazilian hare (L. brasiliensis} is very closely allied to the wood 

 hare, but has the under surface of the tail yellowish brown. 



There are a large number of species of hares inhabiting Central 



es Asia, India, and the regions to the eastward. Of these the Indian 

 black-naped hare (L. nigricollis) is distinguished by the presence of a black patch 

 on the back of the neck, which is wanting in the common Indian hare (Z,. ruficau- 

 datus}. Both these species appear to be much less prolific than the European spe- 

 cies; and when pursued generally take refuge in holes. Of the Tibetan species, the 

 Afghan hare (L. tibetanus), which is found as low as five hundred feet above the 

 sea, is distinguished by the black upper surface of the tail; while in the woolly hare 

 (L. oiostolus) and upland hare (/,. hypsibius} both surfaces of the tail are nearly or 

 quite white. The latter species does not occur below fourteen thousand or fifteen 

 thousand feet, and I have found it in swarms among eleagnus bush in the higher 

 valleys of the Ladakh. 



The most remarkable of the Indian species is, however, the hispid hare (L. his- 

 pidus] , inhabiting the foot of the Eastern Himalayas. In this hare the ears are 

 shorter than the skull, the eyes small, the hair coarse and bristly, the tail dark both 

 above and below, and the hind-legs scarcely longer than the front pair. Although 

 not gregarious, this species is said to burrow like a rabbit; and probably, therefore, 

 produces blind and naked young. Its flesh is reported to be white. An allied spe- 

 cies (L. nitscheri) inhabits Sumatra. 



In Africa hares are found from Egypt to the Cape; those from 



es South Africa afford but poor sport, as their speed is not great, and 

 when pursued they almost invariably run to ground. Moreover, some of them at 

 least, are very foul feeders. The Egyptian hare (L. cegyptius] is considerably 

 smaller than the common species, but with relatively-longer ears, and paler fur. 

 Of the Cape species, the rock hare (L. saxatilis} is nearly equal in size to the com- 

 mon European hare, and has relatively-long limbs and ears, with the fur rufous- 

 above and dirty white below. The Cape hare {L. capensis) differs by its shorter 

 legs, and the absence of a rufous tinge on the back of the neck, and the yellowish 

 color of the throat; when hunted, it always carries the ears erect. Lastly, we have 

 the small thick-tailed hare (L. crassicaudatus} , which is not larger than a rabbit, 

 and is of a foxy-red color above, paler beneath, with the large and thick tail of the 

 same rufous tint as the body. This species, which has very short legs, is confined 

 to the highlands, ranging from the Cape Colony to the Transvaal. 



THE RABBIT (Lepus cuniculus) 



From the foregoing account of the non-European species of hares it will be 

 gathered that some of them show a transition, both as regards form and habits from 



