FAMILY LEPORIDJE. 93 



THE AMERICAN GREY RABBIT: 



Lepus nanus, 

 plate xxvii. fig. 1.— (state collection.) 



Ltpus nanus. ScHREBER, Sauge, Vol. 2, p. 881, pi. 234, fig. B. 



Rabbit. Williams, Nat. and Civil Hist. Vermont, p. 91. Belknap, Hist. N. Hampshire, Vol. 3, p. 113. 



L. americanus. Desmarest, Mam. p. 351. Harlan, Faun. p. 93. Godman, Am. Nat. Hist. Vol. 2, p. 157. 



jD. americanus. Bachhan, Ac. Se. Phil. Vol. 7, p. 326. 



L. sylvaticus. Id. ib. Vol. 7, p. 403 ; and Vol. 8, p. 78. 



i. americanus. Emhons, Mass. Report, 1840, p. 56. 



Characteristics. Yellowish grey, varied with brown ; throat and abdomen whitish ; in winter, 

 'the grey color predominates. Ears shorter than the head. Length 15 - 18 

 inches. 



Description. Form typical. Forehead convex. Claws sharp pointed, and nearly straight. 

 Upper anterior incisors white, with a deep longitudinal groove near their inner margins ; the 

 small incisors behind short, appressed to the anterior incisors, and inserted into the upper 

 maxillary. First molar above simple, recurved ; the four succeeding larger, and of nearly an 

 equal size, composed of double folds of enamel ; the last simple, cylindrical, directed forwards, 

 and scarcely attaining the height of its predecessors. Beneath, the incisors are smooth ; in 

 front, long and subquadrate. The first molar inclined backwards, grooved before, and with a 

 double groove on the outer surface ; the succeeding ones to the last, upright, nearly equal, 

 with a single groove and two prominent ridges on their external surfaces ; the last smallest, 

 inclined forwards, with a slight groove on the external surface, and the tip exhibits a double 

 case of enamel. 



Color. In summer, the general color is yellowish brown, which becomes more or less rufous 

 on the outer surface of the extremities, and on the breast. Margin of the eyes blackish 

 brown, and outside of this a circle of yellowish white. Throat, and underside of the tail, 

 white ; abdomen greyish white. Ears edged with white, and tipped with brown. Fur plum- 

 beous at base, and for much of its length. In winter the fur becomes longer, and the upper 

 surface of the head and body lighter, occasionally iron grey, but I have never seen it as white 

 as is stated by Godman. There may, however, be white varieties, but it cannot be said to 

 have two distinct coats of fur. 



Length of head and body,. 16*0. Length of the hind legs, .. 10.4. 



Ditto of the head, 3-8. Ditto of the tail, 1*5. 



Ditto of the ears, 3"2. Ditto, including fur, 2 • 8. 



Weight, 3 - 4 lbs. 



This common and well known species in the United States, has been, until very recently, 

 confounded with others. The following description by Schrebcr, which seems to have been 

 overlooked by modern writers, applies rcaarkably well to our Rabbit ; although, misled by 



