6 Journal of the Mitchell Society. [March 



FAMILY LEPORIDAE. (THE RABBITS.) 



Upper front teeth four, the second pair small and placed 

 directly behind the others, which are grooved in front, teeth 

 28 in all. Tail short, recurved, eyes large, ears long-, soles 

 furred. The family includes the single genus Lepus, two- 

 species of which are found in North Carolina. 



GENUS LEPUS, L. 



a. Post oi'biial process fused with the skull (subgenus 

 Limnilagus)* 



2. L. falustris, Bachm. Marsh Rabbit Yellowish brown: 

 tail very short, ashy not white, below. L. 17. T. 1. Ear 2 T . : . 

 Found in ihe marshes of the eastern part of the State, extend- 

 ing- as far north as Hyde county and as far east as Lenoir 

 county. 



aa. Post orbital processes not fused with the skull, but touching 

 it behind enclosing a foramen [subgenus Sylz'ilagus.) 



3. L. foridanus miliums Thomas. Cottontail Rabbit. 

 Much grayer than the preceding, the tail tv ou g, 

 cottony white below. L. 18. T. 2 Ear 2}A, hind foot 

 Common throughout the whole State. 



(The Southern Varying Hare, Lepus americanus Virginia 

 anus Harlan, a member of a third subgenus Lepus, which 

 has the post orbital processes free behind, occurs in the Alle- 

 ghauies as far south as Virginia. This is rusty brown above, 

 the tail dull yellowish or whiti h below. L. 19. T. 2. Ear 3. 

 Hind foot b) 2 .) 



FAMILY DIPODIDAE ( JERBOAS AND JUMPING MICE). 



Front teeth two in each jaw, in our species grooved in 

 front, cheek teeth usually four on each side in upper jaw 

 (three in one species). There is only one American genus, 

 two species of which occur in the State. 



