580 U. 8. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



This species, the smallest, as far as known, of those that become white in winter, with the 

 exception, perhaps, of L. washingtonii, has the ears decidedly shorter than the head, in the 

 skin, though sometimes even a little longer when fresh ; the body slender, and the limbs 

 elongated. The ears are naked for a portion of their concavity, elsewhere thickly furred ; 

 thinner on their convexity. The tail is rather short. 



Winter pelage. (No. 67.) A specimen in winter fur, from northern Pennsylvania, is 

 everywhere white, with a shade of yellowish ; the concealed darker colors of the body of the 

 hairs showing through iu places where the fur is parted. The under surfaces of the feet are 

 deeper yellowish. The ears are white, with the distal half of the external band mixed 

 reddish yellow and white ; the upper part of the posterior margin dark brown ; the edge of the 

 ear more white. The fur on the upper part and sides is light plumbeous for the basal half, 

 (paler at the extreme base,) then pale brownish red or cinnamon, and tipped with white ; mixed 

 with this fur are stiffer and longer hairs, of pure white. In passing round to the lower part of 

 the sides, the reddish fades out until on the belly it disappears entirely, and the white tips 

 invade the lead color almost to the disappearance of the latter. 



In a very richly cojored specimen of this species, from Middleboro', Massachusetts, the pre 

 vailing color above is a rich reddish brown, or cinnamon chestnut, on the upper parts, sides, 

 and across the throat. On the back, the black tips to the hair relieve the chestnut. The region 

 around the eye is not appreciably lighter. The ears show a good deal of white, especially on 

 the inner band, and on the dorsal surface. The outer band is like the back. The fringe of the 

 ear and the posterior edge are almost white. There is a very narrow border of black on the 

 end of the ear, extending about half way round posteriorly, and one-fourth anteriorly ; the 

 black is more extended over the ear at the tip, though confined throughout to the convexity or 

 inner surface. The tail is sooty brown, almost black above, (the color not extending on the 

 rump,) and dull grayish white beneath. 



Some specimens have a decided tinge of yellow in the chestnut. The under surfaces of the 

 feet are snuff brown. The under fur is bluish gray for the basal half above ; beneath, it is 

 entirely white. 



The colors of this species are very similar to those of the European hare, Lepus timidus, 

 although the hairs on the back are plumbeous at the base instead of silky white. The long 

 hairs are reddish brown towards the end, with a black tip, instead of having the tip reddish 

 brown with a broad subterminal annulus of black. 



Somewhat similarly colored to the L. californicus, this species lacks the very long ears, the 

 long black tail and black line on the rump, and the cinnamon under parts. The hind feet are 

 actually longer, though the animal is smaller, while the ears and fore feet are much smaller. 

 In fact, in these respects, as well as in the peculiarities of coloration of the fur above, the differ 

 ences are somewhat as mentioned in regard to L. timidus. 



