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282 



MONOORAPUS OF NOUTH AMEIUCAN KODBNTIA. 



external and osteological cliaracters, tliougli presenting many features of 

 general resemblance. No subdivisions of tlie family can apparently be made 

 having a liigher than generic value, the species being, in fact, apparently all 

 strictly coiigeneric. 



The most obvious external distinguishing characters of the Hares are 

 their lengthened hind limbs, their large, sometimes very large, ears, and 

 short, sometimes rudimentary, bushy, erect tail ; most of the species have a 

 thick coat of very sod loose fur. Tlie skull presents also distinguishing 

 features, namely, the large, deep, flattened rami of the lower jaw ; the per- 

 tbratcd or reticulated condition of the facial surface of tlie maxilla; the large 

 size of the orbits, in which the foramina are confluent ; the large size of the 

 anterior palatine foramina, and the reduction of the palate to a mere bridge 

 between the premolars ; the large size, in short, of all the openings of the 

 skull ; the possession of more than the usual number of teeth, including both 

 molars and incisors. The dental formula is as follows : — 



T 2-2 p, 0-0 



^•&^^S=1^=2«- 



Tlie molars are rootless. Lagomys shares witli Lcpus the possession 

 of several of these cranial characters, but they are much less developed. 



In respect to the general skeleton, besides the elongated hind legs and 

 feet, the Hares have the acromion-process of the scapula provided with a 

 spine (metacromion) directed posteriorly at right angles to the axis of the 

 scapula. The vertebral processes are generally long and slender, the thoracic 

 vertebrae being provided with " remarkably long, single, compressed, median 

 liypajiophyscs", not usually present in the other Itodentia. 



Genus LEPUS Liun. 



Lepm LiSN., 8}Ht. Nat. 



llijirolaijuH UiUY, Ann. &■ Mug. Nat. lIiBt., 3(1 Bcr., xx, SSI, 1807. 

 Hi/lcilagus Guay, ibid,, 'iil. 

 fMagoH GiiAY, ibid., 222. 

 Lfput Gray, iIiid.,2SS. 

 Taped Gbay, ibid., 824. 

 C'unic'iiiua Gray {nee Wagler), ibid., 225. 



Onjotoiagna Lilueooiio, Fnnua Bfvcr Sveriges och NorgcB, 417, 1873. Typo L. cuMcuUt Linn.; hcnoe 

 = Cunioithii Grny. 



The characters of the genus have been sufficiently indicated in the 

 preceding description of the family. 



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