RODENTIA LEPORIDAE LEPUS BACHMANI. 



607 



the yellowish brown, the dark brown being thus between two light bars, instead of a light and 

 lead colored one. 



The skull of this species is intermediate in size and shape between those of sylvaticus and 

 artemisia. It is less curved than in either, the horizontal crest of the upper part of the occipital 

 region standing further from a horizontal plane. The post-orbital processes are fused behind 

 with the cranium, enclosing a foramen instead of a notch. The character of the skull is 

 entirely different from that of L. palustris. 



Measurement of a skull. 



The identification of this species with the L. bachmani of Waterhouse is with some considerable 

 degree of uncertainty, although the characters agree better than with any other before me. I 

 had previously given this name to a widely different species (L. audubonii) from California, 

 chiefly on the ground of locality, although recognizing many differences. The locality of Cali 

 fornia, as given by Audubon and Bachman to Waterhouse's specimen, is apparently very incorrect, 

 as this author gives " southwest portions of North America, perhaps California." In another 

 article, however, he speaks of a specimen of L. palustris as having been received in the same 

 collection. This renders it much more probable that Texas was the " southwest portion of 

 North America" referred to, as the skin of L. palustris, described by Gray under the name of 

 L. douylassii, var. 2, was in all probability a portion of the Texas collections of Douglas. 



The specimen 234 agrees pretty well with Waterhouse's measurements, allowing for rather 

 larger dimensions, (Waterhouse suspected his animal to be rather immature.) The difference 

 in the length of the ear is probably owing to the fact that his measurement was made from the 

 extreme end of the cartilage, while mine is from the projection above the skin anteriorly. The 

 character of having the fur on the back lead colored, then almost black, then with a subterminal 



