384 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 24 



Lepus americanus columbiensis Bhoads. 

 British Columbia Varying Hare 



Twenty-two specimens collected fnos. 32765-32786) : sixteen sum- 

 mer adults (skins with skulls), four juveniles, one skeleton (without 

 skin) , and one flat winter skin without skull (the gift of an acquaint- 

 ance). This series seems with fair certainty to belong to the sub- 

 species columhiensis (though collected far north of the known range 

 of that form) , judging from the characterization of the northwestern 

 hares given by Nelson (1909), and from the appearance of a single 

 specimen (no. 33412), an adult female, taken at Vernon (the type 

 locality of columhiensis), November 6, 1922. Specimens from the 

 Hazelton region are essentially like this topotype of columbiensis, due 

 allowance being made for seasonal difference. The Skeena Valley 

 hares are small for macfarlani, occurring immediately to the north- 

 ward (see table of measurements), and, also, in summer pelage the 

 feet are brown. According to Nelson (op. cit., pp. 49, 50, 86), in 

 macfarlani the feet in summer pelage are white, in columbiensis they 

 are brown. 



Considerable field work and study is still required to arrive at an 

 understanding of the distribution of the species of Lepus in British 

 Columbia. Thus, the type locality of Lepus americanus columbiensis 

 is Vernon, British Columbia. NeLson records L. a. columbiensis from 

 Vernon (1909, p. 104), and L. bairdi cascadensis from 'Okanagan' 

 (op. cit., p. 114). Vernon and Okanagan are practically the same 

 locality, Vernon being the principal town in the Okanagan Valley. 

 There is no town of Okanagan, though there is a locality called 

 Okanagan Landing some four miles south of Vernon. Thus Nelson 

 in his text has L. bairdi cascadensis and L. americanus columbiensis 

 occurring at the same place ; in the map of the ranges of these animals 

 (op. cit., p. 85, fig. 8) they are not shown to overlap. If the two forms 

 actually do occur together in any one locality it is a matter of some 

 importance, as bearing upon their specific distinction (see Nelson, 

 op. cit., pp. 84, 85). 



There is at hand a specimen of Lepus (no. 32789), an adult female, 

 collected by the writer near Okanagan Landing, October 1, 1921, that 

 differs in color and skull from the Hazelton hares and from the 

 specimen from Vernon referred to above, and it is apparently Lepus 

 bairdi cascadensis. There may be local differences of environment 



