342 LEPORIDiE. 



length of the head. The hind legs are much shorter, as is 

 also the tail, which is usually pressed closely to the rump, 

 so as to be scarcely visible. The fur is full, soft, and 

 woolly. In summer it is of a grey colour, with more or less 

 admixture of yellowish-brown silky hairs on the upper 

 parts ; the ears are grey, tipped with black ; the tail, pale 

 grey above, white below ; the under parts light grey, 

 becoming dirty white on the belly. In winter, in cold 

 climates, the whole animal is pure white, except the tips 

 of the ears, which remain jet-black. 



Dimensions : — 



Inch. Lines. 

 Lengtli of the head and body . . 21 6 



, , of the head .... 46 



,, of the ear .... 33 



, , of the tail .... 26 



The figure at the beginning of this article was drawn 

 from a living specimen formerly in our possession, but 

 the colour is that of one near the completion of the 

 autumnal change. 



--*isss: 



