VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF LEICESTERSHIRE. 217 
Order RopENTIA. 
Lepus ewropeus, Pall. Common Hare.—Generally distributed 
and common; breeding. Some winters ago, I forget the exact 
date, the local papers recorded the fact of a hare running 
through the principal streets of the Town of Leicester, and 
being ultimately caught in Lancaster Street. 
Lepus cuniculus, Linn. Common Rabbit.—Generally dis- 
tributed and common. Breeding. Harley mentions that in 
Bradgate Park, where it abounds, “black and _parti-coloured 
varieties are met with.” I received a white one in the autumn of 
1881 from thence, and in the spring of 1884 I saw a black one 
run out from a little spinney at Knighton, on land farmed by Mr. 
Lander. On April 17th, 1885, I was with Mr. John Hunt at 
Thurnby, on land in his possession, and, amongst a great number 
of rabbits which were feeding out, we saw several white and parti- 
coloured ones, no less than five being seen at one time. Of 
course, at our approach they bolted into their burrows amongst 
thick scrub ; but, by keeping perfectly still, we were enabled to 
get a near view of those which, deceived by our quietude, shortly 
re-emerged. So near were they, that we were able to see that two 
or three had sandy patches on their ears and other parts of their 
bodies, whilst others were pure white. A fact which struck us as 
singular was that these white rabbits should retain their snowy 
appearance after scampering through wet grass, muddy places, 
and up and down their burrows. Being in close proximity to 
dwelling houses, it is, of course, possible, nay probable, that these 
varieties may have been produced by crossing with tame ones. 
Mus rattus, Linn. Black Rat.—Probably extinct in this 
county. Rev. A. Matthews writes me, 26th January, 1885, that 
he has never heard of its occurrence in the county. Messrs. 
Widdowson and Ingram, writing in February, 1885, say the 
same. 
Mus decumanus, Pall. Brown Rat. — Its distribution in the 
county is unfortunately too general. 
Mus musculus, Linn. House Mouse.—Far too common. 
Several specimens of a curious variety were caught at Kibworth 
in middle of March, 1885, in taking down a corn stack belonging 
to Mr. Buzzard. One of them, handed to me by Mr. Macaulay, 
was of a dingy white, with the exception of the back, which 
ZOOLOGIST.— JUNE. 1885, S 
