LEPORIDJi;— LEPU8 AMEKICANU8 VAR. WASHINGTON!. 



301) 



skulls, from numerous localities. Fourteen are from Oxford County, Maine, 

 and average 3.07 in length (the extremes 3.30 and 2.80) and 1.55 in breadth 

 (extremes 1.62 and 1.40). Six other specimens, from difleront localities in 

 Massachusetts, New York, and Pcnn.sylvania, are the largest of tiie series, 

 but they are all very old skulls, and are doubtless larger than the average for 

 the localities which they represent, being collected by different individuals, 

 and more likely than otherwise were saved from being regarded as "extra 

 fine" specimens. They average 3.23 inches in length (extremes 3.35 and 

 3.10), and 1.60 in breadth (extremes 1.62 and 1.52). 



As previously remarked under the head of var. amer'icanus, there is 

 practically no difference in size or proportions between tlie series of skulls 

 from Maine and the fur countries. 



Var. WASHINGTONI. 



Western Varying Hare. 



Rather smaller than var. virginianuti (of which it is the exact western 

 geographical representative), with the summer pelage of a somewhat stronger 

 reddish tint; probably white in winter, except in the very mild region al)out 

 Puget's Sound, where they have been observed to retain their summer pelage 

 the whole year.* 



The differ ices between this form and var. mrginianus are by no means 

 well marked. i color, the tints of the summer pelage are perhaj)s rather 

 stronger in the western form; but even the original specimens described by 

 Professor Baird can be matched by specimens from Massachusetts. Both 

 the skins and the skulls indicate a slightly smaller size for var. washingtoni; 

 but unfortunately one only of the skulls is full grown (this is the largest of 

 the series), the sutures of the others being still open, and their general 

 appearance is that of specimens but a few months old. The range of var. 

 washingtoni to the northward and eastward is by no means well known; 

 neither are its relations with L. bairdi Hayden. A series of specimens, in 

 winter pelage, collected by Dr. Kennerly (Nos. 5881-6, Coll. S. I.) during 

 the Northwestern Boun<lary Survey, are remarkable for their whiteness, the 

 basal plumbeous zone being lighter-colored and much reduced in extent, as 

 compared with var. americanus ; the subterminal fulvous-brown zone is of 

 a more or less pale delicate salmon color, in some specimens nearly or quite 

 obsolete, leaving the whole pelage of a snowy whiteness to the base, as in L. 

 timidus var. ardicus. The beautiful snowy whiteness of these specimens is in 



* See Snckley, Fnviflc R. R. Rep., xii, iii, 130. 



ii 



