228 A SPEING AND SUMMER IN LAPLAND. 



dress till nearly the end of May. I observed here 

 that the black tip on the point of the ear was 

 much less conspicuous than in our Wermland hare, 

 which is considered by Nilsson as the same species ; 

 and I think so too, for the two craniums agree 

 perfectly. Now, this black ear-tip is one of his 

 great specific marks of distinction between the 

 Lepus borealis and the Lepus canescens, or southern 

 Swedish hare ; but if there is no other specific 

 difference in the osteology, I am almost inclined 

 to think that they are the same species, for the 

 tips of the ears are much blacker in our Wermland 

 hares than in those which we killed on the Quick- 

 iock fells; and it seems to me that, as we go 

 further north, so does this black tip diminish. 



The otter (Lutra vulgaris, Erxl.; " utter," Sw.) 

 was by no means rare here. The only specimen 

 that I shot, however, I lost, for the body was 

 carried over a high waterfall, and I could not 

 reach it. 



The stone marten (Maries foina, Briss. ; " Sten 

 mard," Sw.). This is the only species that I was 

 able to identify in this district, and it was by no 

 means common. They may probably, also, have 

 the common pine marten (Maries sylvestris, Ges. 

 " Skogs mard.), but I never saw it. I have heard 

 it doubted whether these two martens are distinct 

 species, or only young and old of the same animal. 



