1900.] THE VARIABLE HARE. 89 



reference to the Variable Hare of Scotland, seem to be synonyms 

 of the Southern Scandinavian Variable Hare. 



Type locality. Upsala, Sweden. 



As regards colourand size, I cannot distinguish Professor Collett's 

 specimens from those of Scotland : all have progressed a long way 

 towards melanism. On the other hand, not one of my Scotch 

 series reaches the size of two skulls, supposed to be from Scandi- 

 navia, in the British Museum. It is probable, therefore, that 

 Nilsson was right in describing two forms of Variable Hare from 

 Scandinavia. 



Distribution (provisional). South Scandinavia, Scotland, and 

 mountains of Europe. 



(2) Lepus timidus collinus. 



Lepus borealis collinus. S. Nilsson, Illuminerade Figurer till 

 Skandinaviens Fauna, pi. 19 (1829-1832). 



I have seen no specimens of the second Scandinavian form, 

 which probably inhabits the mountains and the north of the 

 country l . 



(3) Lepus timidus hibernicus. 



Irisb Hare, Varrell, Proc. Zool. Soc. 183:?, p. 88. 



Lepus timidus var. /3, Jenyns, Man. Brit. Vert. Animals, 1835, 

 p. 35. 



Lepus hibernicus, Bell, Hist, of British Quadrupeds, 1837, p. 341. 



Typical locality. Ireland. 



Colour in summer reddish brown, often of conspicuous fox- 

 like shade : in winter similar, but in severe weather or on exposed 

 situations a white coat, more or less complete in proportion to 

 the need, is assumed. Size larger than that of Scotch Hares. 

 Weight up to about 10 lbs., whereas that of Scotch Hares, 

 according to Mr. J. E. Harting, " averages probably between 5 lbs. 

 and 6 lbs. ; the heaviest I have noticed weighed 7^ lbs." 2 



It is a pity that the original describer of this Hare should have 

 compared it with the totally distinct Common Hare of England. 

 Hence we have had, so far as I am aware, no careful comparison 

 of it with the Scotch Hare, and its very conspicuous coloration 

 has consequently been overlooked. The introduced Irish Hares of 

 the Island of Mull retain their red coloration. 



Distribution. Ireland. 



(4) Lepus timidus dutescens, subsp. nov. 



Type. No. 82.2.4.1 of British Museum Collection, from Dona- 

 bate, Co. Dublin (Chas. Cobbe). 



Distinguishing characteristics. General colour " rich buff-shading 



1 Since the above was written I have been able (through the kindness of 

 Mr. W. E. de Winton) to examine three skulls from Russia, which probably 

 belong to this form, and of which the basilar length is 80, 79, and 74-5 mm. 

 (the latter immature). 



2 ' Field,' Sept. 5, 1891. 



