LEPUS 229 



Genus LEPUS. 



1758. Lepus, Carolus Linnasus, Sy sterna Natura, x., 57 ; xii., 77, 1766 (part) ; based 



on L. timidus of Linnseus — type (see Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc, London, ign, 



145, published March 191 1), and L. cunicu/us of L'mnseus, both from Europe, L. 



capensis of Linnseus from the Cape of Good Hope, and L. brasiliensis of Linnaus 



from Brazil. 

 1829. Chionabates, Jakob Kaup, Europdische Thierwelt, i., 170 ; based on variabilis 



and borealis. 

 1867. EULAGOS, J. E. Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., September, 222 ; based on 



Lepus mediterraneus of Wagner, and Eulagos judece of Gray, " The Holy Land 



Buneas, Tristram." 

 1899. EULEPUS, Alex. Acloque, Faune de France, Mammiferes, 52 ; based on europaus 



and variabilis. 

 1904. PCECILOLAGUS (sub-genus), M. W. Lyon, jr., Smithsonian Misc. Collections, 



395, 15th June ; based on Lepus americanus of Erxleben, L. bishopi of Allen, L. 



klamathensis of Merriam, L. saliens of Osgood, and L. washingtonii of Baird. 



The synonymy is simple. 



Hares are probably of American origin, since they appear 

 first in the upper Oligocene of North America. In Europe 

 and Asia they are not known earlier than the lower Pliocene. 



They are widely distributed in North America, Asia, and 

 Africa in tropical, temperate, and arctic regions. 



They form a very natural assemblage of leporide rodents, 

 which rest in " forms " in grass or bushes and do not usually 

 burrow. In escaping from their numerous enemies they rely 

 on their speed and activity, or their power to shake off their 

 pursuers by resorting to thick coverts. Even when partially 

 gregarious or sociable in their feeding habits, as they sometimes 

 are, they separate if chased, and rejoin each other by means of 

 their very efficient olfactory apparatus, no doubt helped by the 

 secretions of their inguinal glands. 



The young are born in a high state of development, fully 

 haired, and with their eyes open. 



The flesh of adults cooks dark and resembles venison ; it 

 is much lighter in leverets. 



Characters : — Hares have the body light ; the head thick ; 

 the ears long ; the eyes large, prominent, placed on the sides 

 of the head and with slightly elliptical pupils ; the insides of 

 the cheeks hairy ; the nostrils circular, and connected by a 

 fold with the cleft upper lip. The slender limbs are of uneven 



