FAMILY. 



LEPOEIDAE. 



Incisors , molars ^| or j^|, rootless. Skull with the two optic foramina united. 



The general characteristics of the Leporidae have already been adverted to in the remarks 

 upon the Rodentia. The following more detailed remarks, from Waterhouse, 1 will serve to 

 complete the diagnosis of the family. 



11 Openings of the skull large ; palate, imperfect; nasal processes of the superior maxillary 

 "bone perforated ; orbits very large, meeting in the mesial line of the cranium ; temporal fossae 

 small. Incisors and molars more numerous than in any other rodents. The extra pair of 

 incisors in the upper jaw is small and placed behind the principal pair, which is grooved in 

 front. All the incisors are less deeply implanted in the jaws than in other rodents and are 

 always white. The molars are always rootless. 



"The stomach is simple or partially divided internally; the coecum, which is very long, is 

 divided into numerous cells by tendinous bands, the partitions being indicated externally by a 

 corresponding number of co'nstrictions ; similar constrictions are discernable on the first part of 

 the colon, but this soon contracts to a diameter which is nearly equal to that of the small 

 intestines. At the point of junction of these latter with the coecum is a small glandular 

 cul de sac. 



"The spine of the shoulder blade or scapula terminates in a moderately long acromion 

 process, which, near its extremity, sends down a long branch at right angles with the spine. 

 The fore feet are provided with five well developed toes, the hind feet with four. At the lower 

 half of the shank the two bones (tibia and fibula) are always anchylosed. 



"The inner surface of the cheeks is clothed with small hairs; at least there is a moderately 

 broad band of skin which is thus clothed, running backward from the angle of the mouth. 

 The tail is rather short and bushy, and carried erect or exists only in a rudimentary 

 condition." 



Species of this family are found distributed in most quarters of the globe, but are most 

 abundant in North America. 



The family contains but two genera, Lepus and Lagomys, the former with six, the latter 

 with five upper molars. 2 



1 Natural History of the Mammalia, II. 1848-9. 



2 The generalities respecting this family have been derived chiefly from the admirable work of Waterhouse, as quoted 

 above. 



