LEPUS. 49 



and sides of the neck is less distinctly marked than in H, leucura. 

 The upper back, sides, rump, and upper parts of the hinder legs are 

 spiny, and the spines longest in the middle of the back, about the size 

 of a goose quill, striated longitudinally, and ringed an inch or so 

 broad alternately with black and white, and the open tail quills are 

 dusky. The animal measures from 20 to 22 inches, or a third less 

 than leucura. 



The Sind species is specially destractive to the potato crops. It lives in 

 holes on the hill sides, and banks of the Indus, in the vicinity of cultiva- 

 tion. General MacMaster, in hisnotes on Jerdon's Mammalia, mentions 

 an instance of his having dug out a porcupine of this species, and 

 says that " the entrance of the animal's abode was a hole in a bank at 

 which the dogs were yelping and barking ; but the bipeds had gone 

 more scientifically to work, by countermining from above, sinking 

 shafts downwards, till at last they reached his inner chamber, when 

 he scuttled out, and charging (as they always do, and not throwing 

 their quills) backwards at the dogs with all its spines erected, he soon 

 sent them flying, howling most piteously." The flesh of porcupines 

 is much esteemed in some parts of India, and is in Europe also, when 

 game is scarce, considered a great delicacy. They are very dainty 

 feeders, and General MacMaster says, " this the gardeners know to 

 their cost. A pineapple", he says, "is left by them (the porcupines) 

 till the night before it is cut." Peas, potatoes, onions, &c., are not 

 touched till the owner has made up his mind that they are just ready 

 for the table. 



Family, LEPORIDiE,— Haees. 



Fur soft. Upper incisors 4, lower ones subulate. Molars 5 — 6 

 above, and 6 beneath on each side ; all rootless. Bars generally large. 

 Eyes large. Forefeet short, with 5 toes. Hind feet long, with 4 toes. 

 Tail none, or very short. Soles of the feet hairy. 



Hares are diffused almost over every climate, and, notwithstanding 

 they are hunted and shot everywhere, their numbers never diminish. 

 They propagate the first year of their lives and bring forth four to six 

 young at a time. 



Lepus, Linn. — Incisors |. Upper in pairs (two in front, large and 



grooved, and two smaller behind) . Lower teeth square. Molars g^ 



composed of two soldered vertical plates ; the last very small in the 

 upper jaw. Soles of the feet hairy. Tail short, turned upwards. 



Lepus craspedotis, Blanford, Eastern Persia, p. 80; Murray, 

 Hdbh., Zool., 8fc., Sind, p. 93. 8issa, Soho, Seher, Hind, Sind. 



Colour brown above, white below. Fur of the back pale French 

 grey at the base, then black, and the tip pale brown, almost isabel- 

 line. The black rings are wanting on the fur of the nape, hind 

 neck and breast, which, like the fore legs and hinder part of the tarsi, 

 are pale rufous brown, ears externally mouse brown, blackish brown 

 on the posterior portion near the tip, the anterior edges white with 



7z 



