FAMILY LEPORID.A. 
93 
THE AMERICAN GREY RABBIT: 
Lepus nanus. 
PLATE XXVII. FIG. 1. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 
Lepus 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. 
L. americanus. Bachman, Ac. Sc. Phil. Vol. 7, p. 326. 
L. sylvaticus. Id. ib. Vol. 7, p. 403; and Vol. 8, p. 78. 
L. americanus. Emmons, 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 Schreber, which seems to have been 
overlooked by modern writers, applies remarkably well to our Rabbit; although, misled by 
