THE SOMALI HARE 



Lepus somalensis, Heugl. 



Somali name, Bakdileh 



DESCRIPTION. The general colour of the Somali hare (as 

 far as is known only one species exists) is grey and black 

 above, hair very soft and silky, silver grey at base, then yellowish 

 with black tips. On the sides it is lighter grey fading into 

 fawn, with underparts pure white and quite woolly. Legs, accord- 

 ing to the locality in which the animal is found, vary from an 

 earthy brown to a reddish colour ; the latter being the case in 

 the specimens shot in the Haud, where the soil is red. The tail 

 is black above, white below. Occipital portion of head and 

 upper part of neck cinnamon or pale rufous. 



MEASUREMENTS taken in the flesh of two adult specimens, 

 male and female, were as follows : 



$ ? 



Head and body . . . ' v . . 20^ in. 19} in. 

 Tail . . ... ; . 3| 3 J ,, 

 Height at shoulder . . . . . n 10 

 Ear , . , . ' , -, , . . 4 J 4 f 



Weight . . . ... _.^ 5 Ib. not taken 



DENTITION./. , c. %,pm. f, m. f. 



DISTRIBUTION. Throughout Somaliland from the maritime 

 region to the waterless Haud. 



HABITS. Always found singly. It spends the heat of the 

 day in its lair underneath a bush, and never goes down holes. 

 When surprised it runs a short way and then sits listening, and 

 if disturbed a second time will run a great distance, covering the 

 ground at a great pace by leaping along. They are very easily 

 killed, the smallest shot being sufficient to bag them. They 

 are entirely graminivorous and nocturnal in their habits. 



