1904.] ox THE MOUSE- HARES OF THE GENUS OCHOTONA. 205 



from Fashoda (Hawker Collection), and one from Aboo Zeit, 

 Wliite Xile, sent by Captain Stanley Flower ; and these two were 

 identical specifically -with Lady "William Cecil's specimens*. 



Type in the Gardens of the Zoological Society of London, 

 presented by Lady "William Cecil. 



Examples of three species have been li-^-ing throughout the 

 summer and autumn in the same paddock on the canal-bank in 

 the Xorth Garden. The three examples of B. regularum and one 

 example of B. pavon ina keep together, and the similarity in size is 

 obvious, while the difierent coloration of the neck and lx)dy and 

 of the cheek-patches and the large wattles in the Cape form 

 amply distinguish the species. The two examples of B. cecilice 

 keep together and away from the othei-s. They are smaller, 

 darker in the body, lighter as to the crowns and conspicuously 

 redder as to the cheeks. It would be unAvise to attach too miich 

 importance as to the natiu-al grouping of bii'ds in a menagerie, 

 but it is striking that B. 2)avo/iina consorts with B. regidorum, 

 although the specific distinctness of the two has long been 

 admitted, and not with B. cecilke, with which it has hitherto been 

 confounded. 



4. On the Mouse-Hares of the Geuus Ochotona. 

 By J. Lewis Bonhote, M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S. 



: Received July 18, 190i.] 



[The complete account of the new species described in this commmiicatiou appears 

 here ; but since the name and preliminary diagnosis were published inthe ' Absti-act,' 

 the species is distinguished by the name being underlined. — ^Edixok.] 



A large and valuable series of Oclwtona from Kashmii", recently 

 sent home by Col. A. E. Ward, has induced me to take up and 

 study the whole genus, so far as the Palsearctic Region is con- 

 cei-ned, -s^-ith the results given below. 



O'fi'ing to the fact that these animals live in countries difficult 

 to reach and, for the most part, inhospitable, the series of skins is 

 somewhat meagTe. Nevertheless I have been enabled to come to 

 certain conclusions which may serve as a basis for the future 

 study of the group. 



Exclusive of the American forms, the genus is found in 

 Southern Russia, extending northwards through Persia, Afghan- 

 istan, Kashmir, Tliibet to X.E. Siberia. 



Many of the species are closely allied and some, if not all, have 

 both a summer and a winter pelage. I propose in the fii'st place 

 to divide the genus into three gi'oups, which may be recognised 

 by the shape of the incisive and palatal foramina. 



* [Since the reading of this paper, torn- more Crowned Cranes from the \Miite Nile 

 have been deposited at the Gardens. These are examples of B. cecilice. \ 



