250 LEPORID^— LEPUS 



Soc, xii. (N.S.), No. 23, September 1909, 225, etc.), who gives 

 numerous references to the literature, including the work of 

 Nathusius, Forsyth Major, Winge, Lonnberg, Lyon, and 

 Nelson. 



In L, europcsus the scapula is proportionately narrower than 

 in the varying hares. 



This group, which in Britain is represented by L. europesus, 

 is only a comparatively recent immigrant into Western Europe, 

 where it has superseded the members of the true Lepus group. 

 The broader and shorter incisors and less deeply-rooted upper 

 cheek-teeth suggest that its members are naturally graziers on 

 soft grassy herbage rather than on the stronger stalks of herba- 

 ceous plants, bushes, or the bark of trees. The longer ears, 

 extremely long whiskers, more highly developed olfactory 

 region, and less prominent eyes, are probably indicative of a 

 more nocturnal habit. The fur is that of a recent immigrant 

 from less rigorous regions than those at present occupied by 

 the true hares, and the lesser number of mammae point to 

 smaller, although, perhaps, more frequent litters of young. 



No doubt further subdivision will be required when the 

 members of the group Eulagos are better understood. The 

 main convenience to systematists of the present arrangement is 

 that it defines the group of true Lepus, under which is given 

 a fuller discussion of the distinctions. 



THE COMMON OR BROWN HARE. 



LEPUS EUROP^US, Pallas. 

 LEPUS EUROPMUS OCCIDENTALIS, de Winton. 



1666. Lepus, a Hare, Christopher Merrett, Pinax, i68. 



1693. Lepus, Kar/Hi^ Grsecis, The Hare, John Ray, Synopsis Methodica Animalium 



Quadrupedum, etc., 204. 

 1756. Le LifeVRE, L. J. M. Daubenton in E. L. le Clerc, Comte de Buffon's Histoire 



Naturelle, vi , 264-299 ; described from Burgundy, France. 



1777. Lepus timidus (species, nee Linnaeus), J. C. R. Erxleben, Systema Regni 

 Animalis, 325 (part) ; Berkenhout ; Turton ; Bingley ; Fleming ; Jenyns ; Bell 

 (ed. i.) ; MacGillivray ; Fatio. 



1778. Lepus europ^us (species), P. S. Pallas, Novce Species Quadrupedum Gliriuin 

 Or dine, 2, 30 (part); naming Daubenton's "Le li^vre'' = Z. europaus europceus 

 (Pallas) ; Lydekker ; Thomas, Zoologist, 1898, 101 ; Johnston ; Millais ; Winge ; 

 Hinton, Sci. Proc. Roy. Dublin Soc., xii. (N.S.), No. 23, September 1909, 226; 

 Trouessart (1910). 



