LEP 
LEPTOCEPHALUS, the morris, in na- 
tural history, a genus of fishes of the order 
Apodes. Generic character : head small 
and nhrrow, body exceedingly thin, com- 
pressed ; no pectoral fins. This . fish was 
first discovered near the isle of Anglesea, by 
a gentleman of the name of Morris. It is 
four inches long, with an exceedingly small 
head, and a body so thin as to be nearly 
transparent ; on a slight view it might al- 
most be considered as a tape-worm. 
LEPTOSPERMUM, in botany, a genus 
of the Icosandria Monogynia class and or- 
der. Natural order of Myrti. Essential 
character : calyx five-cleft, half superior ; 
petals five, with claws, longer than the sta- 
mens ; stigma capitate ; capsule four or 
five-celled ; seeds angular. There are ele- 
ven species, of which L. scoparium is a 
small tree or shrub, growing to a moderate 
height, generally bare on the tower part, 
with a number of small branches growing 
close together towards the top ; the younger 
ones are silky ; it grows commonly in dry 
places near the shores in New Zealand ; 
the underwood in Adventure-bay, Van Die- 
men’s land, chiefly consists of this shrub ; 
the leaves were used by Captain Cook’s 
ships’ crews, as tea, whence they named it 
the tea-plant ; the leaves have a very agree- 
able flavour, and a pleasant smell when 
fresh ; if the infusion was made strong, it 
proved an emetic to some, in the same 
manner as green tea ; it was also used with 
spruce leaves, in equal quantities, to cor- 
rect their astringency in brewing beer for 
them, which rendered it exceedingly pala- 
table. 
LEPTURA, in natural history, a genus 
of insects of the order Coleoptera. Anten- 
nee setaceous ; four feelers filiform ; shells 
tapering towards the tip ; thorax slender, 
rounded. There are nearly one hundred 
and fifty species, in two divisions, viz. A. lip 
entire ; B. hp bifid. Many of the species 
of this genus are very beautiful; among 
these may be mentioned L. arcuata, of a 
black colour, with wing-sheaths marked by 
transverse yellow ; lunated bands pointing 
backwards. It is found in the woods dur- 
ing the summer months, and generally mea- 
sures about three-quartets of an inch in 
length. L. aquatica, is so named from its be- 
ing particularly found in the neighbourhood 
of waters, frequently on the plants which 
grow near the water’s edge. It is only half 
an inch in length, and of a golden green co- 
lour, sometimes varying into copper-colour, 
purple, or blue, and is distinguished by hav- 
LEP 
ing a tooth or process on the thighs of the 
legs. 
LEPUS, the hare, in natural history, a 
genus of Mammalia, of the order Glires. 
Generic character: two fore-teeth above 
and below ; the upper pair double, two 
small ones standing within the exterior. 
These animals exhibit several considerable 
ditferences from those of the order Glires 
in general, to which, however, upon the 
whole, they are with more propi;iety attach- 
ed than to any other. By an appearance 
of rumination, they appear somewhat con- 
nected witli the Pecora. There are fifteen 
species, of which the following chiefly de- 
serve notice. 
E. timidus, or the common hare. This 
animal is a native of almost every country 
of the old continent, and is generally of the 
length of two feet. Its upper lip is divided, 
and its eyes are extremely projected, and, 
it is said, kept open by it during sleep. It 
subsists on a great variety of vegetables, 
particularly those which possess milky qua- 
lities; the bark of young trees, and their 
tender shoots, are likewise often taken by 
them for food. It produces generally three 
young ones at a time, and breeds at least 
three times in a year, ’fhe hare seldom 
quits its seat, or form, as it is called; during 
the day, unless compelled by the approach 
of enemies; but takes i(s range for food 
and excursion by night, always returning, it 
is said, to her habitation by the same track 
by which it was left. In this form it will 
sometimes suffer itself to be approached so 
nearly, as to be nearly trodden upon before 
it starts for escape ; the first advances of 
the enemy having probably not attracted 
its attention, and those which immediately 
followed, being attended by a species of 
fascination, or prostration of energy, the 
frequent effect of terror, till, at length, the 
imminence of its danger rouses every nerve 
and muscle, to exertions which enable it 
to leave its enemies at a considerable dis- 
tance. Its fleetness is such as to give it the 
advantage over many of its numerous ad- 
versaries. Its quickness of hearing, and 
comprehension of sight, by which last it re- 
ceives the impressions of objects on almost 
every side, are also important means of its 
protection. The similarity of its colour, 
likewise, to that of the ground, is another 
circumstance considerably in its favour. In 
the more northern regions, during the ri- 
gours of winter, its coat becomes of a per- 
fect whiteness. By the particular structure 
of the hind-feet of this animal, it is quali- 
