22 
LEPORID^E.’ 
pale grey ; lower parts , from between 
the fore-legs to tip of tail, white, ex- 
cept at inner base of hind-legs, which 
are of a very pale grey ; upper portion 
of tail * white, with a few black hairs 
towards the base, giving that part a sul- 
lied or impure tinge. 
Fore-legs dull reddish-brown in front 
and outer sides ; inner and hinder por- 
tion white, which colour comes forward 
transversely on the outer sides of the 
legs, just above the foot, which is brown. 
Sides of hinder legs greyish, tinged an- 
teriorly wdth yellowish -brown ; of this 
colour a stripe extends from the tarsal 
joint to the middle foe, and is bounded 
on both sides by white ; entire base from 
tarsal joint to toe-claws dull greyish- 
brown, inner portion of same part whit- 
ish ; this varied marking more or less 
conspicuous in different individuals. 
Lips greyish ; whiskers uniformly 
white or black, or of both colours; 
irides dark hazel. 
black, the former predominating; to- 
wards the lower portion of the sides 
the pale reddish-brown, or rich cinna- 
mon colour, only appears, and this alone 
prevails on both sides of the neck, and 
on its lower portion ; entire under sur- 
face, from between the fore-legs to the 
tip of tail, white, except at inner base 
of hind-legs, where a pale cinnamon co- 
lour prevails. 
Fore-legs dark reddish-brown in front 
and outer sides ; inner and hinder por- 
tion a very pale red and white inter- 
mixed. Kind-legs, to tarsal joint, of a 
grey and very pale red combined ; from 
thence to middle toe reddish-brown, 
which colour becomes gradually paler 
posteriorly ; inner portion of same part 
whitish. 
Lips blackish; whiskers uniformly 
white or black, or of both colours ; 
irides dark hazel. 
“ From this comparative description it appears that the Lepus timidus dis- 
plays greater diversity of colour in the head, ears, and body, than Lepus Hiber- 
nicus, and that the latter exhibits greater variety in the disposition of colours 
on the legs. 
“ On looking to the visceral anatomy, along with my friend, Dr. J. L. Drum- 
mond, the following measurements were made : — 
Irish Hare. 
Scot. Hare. 
MA 
LE. 
MALE. 
Weight, 
Weight, 
51b. 
3oz. 
61b. 2oz. 
feet 
inch. 
feet 
inch. 
Length of small intestines from stomach to ccecum . 
12 
10 
14 
0 
— of ccecum from termination of the ileum . 
1 
6i 
2 
0 
— of colon 
4 
5 
4 
8 
— of rectum 
3 
0 
3 
0 
“ In the following table, a comparative view is presented of the osteological 
characters of the two species : — 
* It is singular that this, the most obvious of all the differences in colour be- 
tween the two species, should have been quite unnoticed by the several authors 
who have written on the Irish hare, more especially as the colour of the tail is 
always one of the few leading characters given of Lepus timidus, both by British 
and continental authors. On questioning some of the Belfast dealers in hares as 
to their means of knowing the two species, I found that the difference of colour 
in the tail was one of their marks of distinction — with every external character, 
indeed, they are, and always have been, quite familiar. 
