MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 239 



VAR. AUDUBONI 



is about the size of L. sylvaiicus and has longer ears. The 

 dorsal surface is yellowish-brown mixed with black, under- 

 neath white. It is the darker phase of _L. sylvaticus inhabiting 

 the moist regions of the Pacific coast from northern California 

 to San Diego, passing on the southern limit into var. arizonce. 

 In color it is said to resemble L. irowbridgei which is much 

 smaller and has no black upon the ear- tips and has a shorter tail. 



The L. bachmani described by Waterhouse and figured by 

 Audubon is regarded by Allen as simply the common variety, 

 an immature individual being the basis of the description and 

 figures. The latter are very poor and are not distinctive. 



L. ariemisia is regarded as a synonym for L. nuttalli. The 

 name L. bachmani was applied later to the gray hare of the 

 Texas plains and it is therefore doubtful if that name is not 

 also a synonym of the sage hare, L. nuttalli. 



Size. A full grown female gives the following measurements : 

 Length, 18.50; tail, 3; nose to eye, If; nose to ear, (open- 

 ing) 3|; nose to occiput, 3.25; ears, 2f; fore foot, If; 

 hind foot, 4.25. (No. 38, Jan. 1884). This it will be seen 

 from the appended schedule is not an unusual measurement for 

 adult specimens in Minnesota. Out of thirty-five specimens, 

 of which measurements are given in Allen's Monograph of 

 North American Leporidse, but one reaches the length given 

 above. The wide range from which the specimens were 

 received makes it the more remarkable that that one should 

 be from Iowa, and the next largest (17.00 long) should be from 

 Wisconsin, and that the suit of specimens from Iowa should be 

 uniformly of large size. The average of the thirty- five speci- 

 mens falls below 15.45. A number of specimens from Kansas 

 fall below 13.50, showing, presumably, a transition to the west- 

 ern varieties. 



Of L. sylvaticus, Baird gives following measurements of a 

 fresh specimen: 



Nose to occiput 3 . 25 



" " eye 1 . 93 



" " ear 3.17 



" " root of tail 16.75 



" " end of outstretched legs 26.75 



Tail to end of vertebrae 2.00 



Tail to end of hairs . . 2.75 



