35 



GENUS LEPUS.— Linn. 



DENTAL FORMULA. 



Incisive g ; Canine ^^ ; Molar g^ = 28. 



Upper incisors in pairs, two in front large and grooved, and two im- 

 mediately behind, small ; lower incisors square ; molars, with flat 

 crowns, and transverse laminae of enamel. Interior of the mouth and 

 soles of the feet furnished with hair ; ears and eyes large ; fore-feet with 

 five toes ; hind-feet with only four ; hind-legs very long ; tail short ; mam- 

 mae, from sLs to ten. 



The word Lepus is derived from the Latin, lepus, and Greek Eolic, 

 ymsfif, (leporis,) a hare. 



There are about thirty known species of this genus, of which rather 

 the largest number, (perhaps sixteen or seventeen species,) exist in North 

 and South America ; while the remainder belong to the Eastern continent. 



LEPUS TOWNSENDII.— Bach. 



Townsbnd's Rocky Mountain Haee. 

 PLATE in.— Male and Female.— Natural size. 



L. magnitudine, L. Americano par ; auribus, cauda, cruribus tarsisque 

 longissimis ; supra diluti cinereus, infra albus. 



characters. 



Size of the Northern hare, {L. Americanus :) ears, tail, legs, and tarsus, 

 very long ; colour above, light gray ; beneath, white. 



STNONTMES. 



Lepus Townsendh, Bach., Journal Acad. Nat. Sciences, Philadelphia, vol. viii., part 1, 

 p. 90, pi. 3, (1839,) read Aug. 7, 1838. 



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