46 GILPIN— ON THE MAMMALIA OF XOVA SCOTlA. 



Tradition tells us that in times long past, the fields with their 

 crops now on the verge of the precipice, were once nearly a mile 

 from the sea ; but every year, nay every day, is preparing for them 

 a '* watery grave;" and where the husbandman now guides his 

 plough along the furrowed earth, the fisherman will some day (per- 

 haps not far distant) be seen steering his little craft through the 

 foaming waves. 



^. B. — Beference is made in several parts of the foregoing 

 paper to ' * Figures " illustrating various deposits ; but it is hardly 

 necessary to reproduce them. 



AkTo VI. On the Mammalia of Nova Scotia. Br J. 

 Beknard Gilpin, ^ A. B,, M. D., M. R. C. S. 



{Read February 13, 1871.) 



Lepus^ Americaniis, (Erxlebein, Shaw, Richardson, Dekay, 



Audubon, Baird.) 

 Lepiis, Hudsonius^ (Pallas, Bodaert.) 

 Lepus^ nanus, (Schreiber.) 

 Lepus, Virginiamis, (Harlam.) 

 American Hare, (Penant, Foster.) 



The American Hare. 



From measuring many specimens before me, the following are the 

 least and the greatest measurement I have made ; — 



Length of body 17 inches. 



Length to outstretched hind leg- 24 



Length of body 20/o 



Length to outstretched hind leg 28i^2 



Length of hind leg Sjo 



Height of ear Sj^o 



Length of head S^^o 



Their bodies seeming to vary more than their extremities. The 

 smaller were doubtless the young of the year. In form they shew the 

 usual leporine characteristics of arched forehead, high back and great 

 length of hind le^, a crouching attitude when in repose with feet 



