454 LEPOEID.H. 



326. Lepns hispidus. The hispid Hare. 



Lepus hispidus, Pearson, McClelland, P. Z. S. 1839, p. 152; Hodgson, 

 J. A. S. B. xvi, p. 572, pi. xiv ; Blyth, Cat. p. 133 ; id. J. A. S. . 

 xxii, p. 415 ; Jerdon, Mam. p, 226. 



Caprolagus hispidus, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xiv. p. 249, plates. 



Ears very short, shorter than the skull. Eyes small. Fur coarse, 

 bristly; underfur fine with the coarse longer hairs intermixed. 

 Hind legs short, but little exceeding the fore legs in length. Claws 

 strong. Mammae 6. Skull very thick, flat above ; frontals longer 

 and nasals shorter than in other hares. Postorbital processes small, 

 united to the frontals anteriorly ; incisive foramina small ; bony 

 palate as long as broad. Teeth large. 



Colour above black mixed with brownish white, producing a 

 general dark brown aspect, and passing on the sides gradually into 

 the sullied brownish white of the lower parts. The rump is more 

 rufescent in some skies. Tail brown throughout, darker above. 

 Basal half of dorsal fur greyish brown ; terminal portion at first 

 dark brown or black, then yellowish white followed by a long black 

 tip sometimes interrupted by a second pale ring. Ears brown out- 

 side throughout. Breast a little darker brown than the abdomen. 



Dimensions. Head and body 19 inches, tail I'l, with hair 2-1, ear 

 2-75, hind foot and tarsus 3-9 ; basal length of skull 3, zygomatic 

 breadth 1-75. Weight 5| Ibs. 



Distribution. The tract along the foot of the Himalayas from 

 Gorakhpur to Upper Assam. The hispid hare does not range into 

 the mountains, but is said to be found as far south as the Eajmehal 

 hills, Dacca, and, according to Hodgson, Tipperah. 



Habits very imperfectly ascertained. According to Hodgson the 

 hispid hare inhabits the Sal forest, whilst Jerdon states with more 

 probability that it is found in the Terai (that is, of course, the 

 marshy tract usually thus called), frequenting long grass, bamboos, 

 &c. It is said to burrow like a rabbit, but not to be gregarious. Its 

 food, as Hodgson was informed by the Mechis, consists chiefly of 

 roots and the bark of trees. The flesh is said to be white. 



This hare should perhaps be placed in a distinct genus Capro- 

 lagus as proposed by Blyth. An allied form, with black markings, 

 L. nitscheri, has recently been described from Sumatra. 



