60 



SECOND YARKAND MISSION. 



Family— LEPOBIBjE. 



40. Leptjs hypsibius. PL III, fig. 1 ; PI. IVa, fig. 1. 



W. Blanf., J. A. S. B., 1875, xliv, Pt. 2, p. 214. 



Lepns pallipes, Blyth, Cat. Mam. Mus. As. Soc, p. 131. — W. Blanf., J. A. S. B., 1875, xliv, 



Pt. 2, p. 109, nec Hodgson. 

 L. oiostolus, Adams, P. Z. S., 1858, p. 520, nec Hodgson. 



L. major, rufescens, nigro-adumbratus, subtus albus, uropygio fuscescenti-griseo, caudd 

 Jloccosd, omnino alba, vellere dorsali densissimo subcrispato, auriculis breviusculis, capitem 

 longitudine parum excedentibus, antice extus fusco-rufescentibus, postice albescentibus vel 

 albis. Long, corporis cum capite in corio dessicato ad 24 poll., tarsi 5, auricula? a capite 

 4' 5, cranii 3' 6. 



1, Pamzal, Changchenmo valley (immature) ; 2 Kium, 15,500 feet, adult ; both localities in Northern Ladak. 



The following description is taken from the Kium specimen, which was killed in October. 

 Colour rufous-brown, more or less mixed with black on the back, dusky ashy on the rump ; 

 lower parts' white with a slight rufescent tinge. Pur long, w r oolly, rather curly and thick; 

 on the anterior portion of the body the hairs are about 1^ inches long, ashy at the base ; 

 further back the basal portion becomes creamy white ; beyond the middle of each hair there 

 is a blackish ring, then a pale-brown one, the extremity being black. Towards the rump, 

 the hairs are fully two inches long, and for the most part ashy-grey throughout, a few only 

 having short black tips. On the sides the hair is rufous-brown, except at the base, where 

 it is ashy, on the lower parts white with a slight rufous tinge throughout. On the neck the 

 hairs are rufous-brown, those on the back of the neck having ashy tips ; on the breast they 

 are paler rufous. Head brown, whitish round the eyes, whiskers partly black, partly white ; 

 outside surface of ears brown in front, whitish behind, the brown hairs having short black 

 tips, no distinct dark band in front. Extreme tip of ears black, the colour only running a 

 short distance down each margin. Ears inside clad, towards the tip and posterior margin, 

 with buff hail's, a brow r n band near the hinder margin, which is buff. Tail white 

 throughout. Limbs chiefly white, a brownish band running down the anterior portion of 

 the fore-legs. 



In the younger specimen from Pamzal, the hinder portion of the ear is white, and the 

 black tips to the dorsal fur less developed, a pale streak running along each side of the 

 face, through the eye. Both specimens appear a little stained in parts. In both the thick- 

 ness of the fur beneath the tarsi is remarkable. 



The length of the adult skin from Kium, as nearly as it can be measured round the 

 curve of the back, is 24 inches from nose to rump ; ears from orifice from the head 

 between the ears breadth of ear laid flat two inches (all these measurements would be 

 more in fresh specimens), tarsus to end of claws 5 inches. 



I learn from Dr. Cayley that hares in Tibet vary much in colour with the season. The 

 specimens obtained were shot in October, when they had probably assumed their winter 

 garb. They are said, however, to become paler and greyer in winter. 



