Western Europe and North Africa. 153 



Lepus LUfordij sp. n. 



Lepus yranatensis (Schimp.), Roseuliauer, Regensb. Corresp. 1850, 



p. Ill (nom. nud.). 

 Lepus meridionalis (Gen6), Gervais, Zool. et Paleont. Fr. p. 29 (1851) 



(partim, n. n.). 

 Lepus hispanicus (Natt.), Fitzing. Sitzb. Ak. Wissensch. 1867, p. 161 



(n. n.). 

 Lepus pi/7-enaicus (Boubee), Fitzing, f. c. (n. n.). 

 Lepus gracilis, Natt., MS., in Mu-seo Viennense (n. n.). 

 Lepus timidus (partim), Blasius et auct. 

 Lepus europtsus (partim), Lepus mediterraneus (partim), auct. 



Upper parts of head and body, ears, and tail much as in 

 L. e. occidentalism though the colours are darker, while varying 

 somewhat in tone, as in that species ; the tail is long, black 

 above, white on the sides and beneath. Fur very much 

 waved or plaited on the back ; interspersed among the ordi- 

 nary fur are long, coarse, snow-white hairs, which are very 

 much more conspicuous than in L. e. occidentalism especially 

 on the sides and rump ; these long hairs in their basal half, or 

 that part hidden by the thick fur, are black, the terminal 

 half protruding beyond the fur snow-while ; both fore and 

 hind limbs bay-red in front, snow-white behind; the white 

 almost encircling the fore leg immediately above the elbow, 

 and at the wrist extending from the inner side round on to 

 the front of the joint ; the fore feet are red, with tips near 

 the nails white ; on tiie hind feet the white extends in the 

 same way from the inner side of the heel, so that the front of 

 the foot is white save for the presence of narrow lines between 

 the toes. The whole of the underparts are snow-white 

 excepting the neck-band, which is dark fawn. 



The most striking character of this hare is the sharp 

 distinction between the colours of the upper and under sur- 

 faces of the body and the strong contrast between the bright 

 bay of the outer sides of the legs and the pure wliite of the 

 inner sides, the fur being also sleeker and lying closer on the 

 legs than in any other species. 



In the seven specimens referred to there is no variation 

 whatever in the character of the markings. 



Type S , Slid Dec. 1894, Seville (Brit. Mus. no. 95. 3. 3. 12). 

 Presented by Lord Lilford. 



Measurements (taken from dried skin) : — 



Head and body 470 niillim. ; tail 86; ear 118; land foot 

 (without claw) 116. 



Skull: greatest length 89; greatest breadth 43; breadth 

 across maxillffi below lachrymals 33 ; lengtli of nasals in 

 middle line 30, greatest length 38, greatest breadth 20, across 

 narrowest part lo'O ; intertenip. constr. 12*1 ; basal length 

 71'5; length of upper molar series (tooth-sockets) 16't); 



