SANFORD——SOMERSET-CAVE RODENTIA. i, 
rentiated. But the entire skull and the many fragments in the 
Taunton Museum differ far more from any recent skulls with which 
we have been able to compare them than almost any of those of the 
existing species of the restricted genus Lepus do from each other. 
A reference to the table of measurements at the end of this ‘paper 
will show the almost gigantic size of the fossil form. 
A minute description of the skull and other bones would require 
an undue amount of space; but the following are a few of the most 
salient characters which appear to be constant. The frontals differ 
in form from those of every hare with which we have compared 
them, with the exception of those of the much smaller form, Lepus 
altaicus of the British Museum Catalogue; but in the skulls of this 
animal the postorbital processes are much less developed, and do 
not extend as far back as the parietals, with which these processes 
coalesce in the fossil. In this respect the fossil agrees with the 
Rekalek or Polar hare, Lepus arcticus ; it also resembles this animal 
in the comparatively great depth of the malar; but in no other re- 
spect have the animals any near affinity, the skull being compara- 
tively much longer. From all other hares with which we have com- 
pared it, it differs by the depression on the malar being carried much 
further forward, by the angle formed by this bone with the ascending 
process of the maxillary which forms the anterior border of the orbit 
being much more distinctly marked and less rounded off, as well as by 
the greater development of the posterior process of the malar. We 
have found too much individual variation in the minute comparative 
measurements of the different bones of the skull to trust to any of 
them as specific distinctions ; but the aspect of the whole skull (in- 
dependent of its size) is so different when placed among a large num- 
ber of recent crania that it is impossible not to be at once con- 
vinced of its distinctness (Pl. VIII. fig. 5). 
The greater number of the other bones of the skeleton confirms 
this opinion; for, though not much longer, they are almost invariably 
much larger and stouter, when found with the older fauna, than those 
of any recent hares to which we have had access. 
10. Although by far the larger proportion of the bones of hares 
from the deposits in which the Mammoth-fauna occurs are of the 
stout and comparatively gigantic form, a certain though small num- 
ber cannot be distinguished from those of Lepus timidus (Linn.), 
which we must therefore class as belonging to this fauna, whereas 
in the caves which were more recently filled, such as Whitcombe’s 
Hole in the Mendip, which contained sheep, none of the larger 
bones are found; they are exclusively those of the common hare 
and the rabbit. 
The same has occurred to us in another locality, the details of 
which we are not at present in a position to publish. 
11. Lepus hibernicus (Bell). A single half lower jaw from 
Hutton Cave may doubtfully be referred to this species: it is too 
mutilated and belonged to too young an animal to be determined 
absolutely. 
