282 



DR. EINAR L0>7NBERG ON HYBRID 



[Apr. 18, 



The foremost premolar of the maxillary is moi'e simple in 

 L, eu.ropcmbs, with, as a rule*, only two enamel- folds, while the 

 same tooth in L. timidus has three. In this respect the hybrid 

 resembles the latter species, as text-figui'e 53 shows. But the size 

 of the teeth is, as also can be seen from the figure, larger than 

 the average in the parental species. 



Text-fig. 53. 



First premolar of the maxillary : A of i. europmns, C of L. timidus, and B of 

 hybrid between both. (A and C 10 times enlarged, B 8 times enlarged.) 



This description appears to be sufficient not only to prove the 

 presence in the hybrid of characteristics from botlr the parental 

 species, but also to show that the hybrid is physically very strongly 

 developed, even more so in certain respects than either of the 

 parents. The masticating-power of the hybrid appears to have 

 been especially greatly developed, with a grinding-surface larger 

 than the average in the parental species. This has needed a 

 greater development of the muscles moving this apparatus, and 

 with the increase in size of the muscles the bones standing in re- 

 lation to them have become altered, which indicates how easily 

 even such characteristics as those derived from the skull may 

 become altered (see text-fig. 54, p. 283). 



Two months later, when all the Hai-es, even in Scania, had 

 assumed their winter garb, some more specimens were received 

 from Count Thott. They all differed somewhat in colour. The 

 two darkest had the fore-neck and breast, the colour extending 

 even somewhat on the flanks, uniformly deep rusty red. The 

 hairs of the upper parts were mostly black with broad subapical 

 or apical bands of a rusty yellow. In these two specimens 

 there were only very few traces of a lighter winter coat on the 

 sides of the hind legs. The third was a little lighter and had 

 a broad band above the tail on the lower back mixed with 

 bluish grey. These three were no doubt true examjsles of Lepus 

 europceus. — The fourth, however, seemed more than doubtful. It 



* Indications of the third fold maj^, however, sometimes be seen. 



