62 



SECOND Y ARK AND MISSION. 



41. Lepus pa-Llipes, var. PI. Ill, fig. 2. 



Hodgson, 1 J. A. S. B., 1842, xi, p. 288. — Waterhouse, Rodentia, p. 62. 

 ? L. oiostolus, Hodgs., J. A. S. B., 1840, ix, p. 1186. 

 ? L. tibetanm, Anderson, P. Z. S., 1871, p. 563, nee Waterhouse. 

 Tagh-toshkhan (mountain hare), Yarkandi (Scully). 



1. No label. 



The only specimen which I refer to this species is without a label, but I think it very 

 probable that it was shot in the Karakash valley. An examination of the skull shows that 

 it is just adult. 



The general colouration is pale rufous-brown, the whole of the rump being pure ash-grey. 

 The basal portion of the fur is dark slaty everywhere, except on the middle of the back, 

 where it is very grey and nearly white, and on the lower parts and tail, where the hair is 

 white throughout. There are very few black tips to the hair on the back ; a few longer black 

 hairs are mixed, but they are not numerous, and they are so fine that they are easily overlooked. 

 The ends of the hairs on the nape and along the back of the neck are pale grey. Sides of 

 the neck and breast pale rufous. Tail white, except near the base above, where there are a 

 few dark-grey hairs. On the ears dark-brown longitudinal bands are conspicuous on the 

 anterior outer portion and the posterior inner surface. The anterior edge of the ear is white, 

 the posterior edge buff inside, the upper portion of the inside surface white. The anterior 

 portion of the outer surface (except where dark-brown or white) is rufous-brown, the posterior 

 portion white, becoming ashy near the base. The extreme tip is black ; this colour runs a 

 short distance down the anterior, and nearly half-way down the posterior edge. Face brown, 

 with a well-marked, pale, lateral band through the eye ; side of nose whitish ; the longer 

 whiskers black near the base, white on the terminal portion ; other whiskers black, except a 

 few of the lowest, which are white. 



The fur is extremely dense, soft and woolly, slightly curved on the back and sides ; the 

 hairs on the tarsus not so long as in L. hypsibius. 



The length of the skin from nose to rump is about 18 inches ; tail, including the hairs 

 at the end, 5 ; tarsus, 4*6 ; ears from the head 4*5, from the orifice 3*6. 



The following are the dimensions of the skull : — 



Metre. Inches. 



Length from occiput to front of incisors ...... *090 3*55 



Greatest hreadth across posterior portion of zygomatic arches . . . "0425 1*68 



Width between orbits -027 1-05 



Length of nasal bones .......... "035 L45 



Breadth of do. behind . . . . . . . . '019 074 



Do. do. in front *014 0-55 



Length from base of hinder upper incisors to foremost molar . . . '027 1"05 



Do. of the row of upper molars ........ "0145 0 - 57 



Do. of palate behind anterior palatine opening ..... '006 0'24 



Breadth of palate between 3rd pair of molars ..... "0125 0*5 



Length of lower jaw from angle to symphysis ..... "065 2*55 



Height of do -038 1-5 



Of the original types of L. pallipes described by Hodgson, two were from Lhassa and one 

 from Sikkim. Through the kindness of Mr. Mandelli of Darjiling, I have had an opportunity 



1 In the original description the name is printed pallipes. I think this must be a mistake or misprint for pallidipes, as the 

 English name is given as " white-foot. " As the same specific name, however, is given to the Indian wolf and to some other animals, 

 it would be inconvenient to change it. 



