Eodentia. MAMMALIA. Bodentia. 
1840, calls it simply Porcupine. DeKay describes 
it under tlie head of The North American Porcu- 
pine {Hystrix hudsonius). Richardson names it 
II. pilosns. DeKay says : “'I’he Porcupine is an in- 
offensive animal, and very gentle in its manners. It 
feeds on the leaves and bark of the hemlock [Pinus 
canadensis), the bass-wood and ash. 'I’hey move 
very sluggishly, and when irritated, make a faint 
whining- noise. By a strong cuticular muscle they 
erect their spines when about to strike.” Audubon 
records an instance of the terrible effects of th^strohe 
upon a mastiff, whose face was so beset with the 
offensive weapons as to remain several weeks in a 
critical state of inflammation. Emmons, in Report 
on Quad. Mass., 1840, says : ” It dwells in dens, or 
under rocks, and in the hollows of trees. When as- 
sailed, it immediately throws its head between the 
fore-legs, and erects the spines on its back, and, at 
the same time, elevates its posterior parts and tail ; 
if now touched, it gives a smai-t lateral blow witli its 
tail.” We have seen with what results. Emmons 
says that it is common in the vicinity of Williams- 
town. Mass., and that an albino is sometimes met 
with in Northern New York. 'I’liis animal is too 
unique to be mistaken for another, although a variety 
exists, called the Western Porcupine, variety epi- 
xanthus. 'I’his is similar to the other in external 
appearance, but the light tips of the long hairs are 
pale greenish-yellow, instead of white. The nasals 
are also broader and longer. The range of the Ere- 
thizon is throughout the United States, from Maine 
through the Middle States to Kentucky, but is 
not seen on the sea-board portions. It is not found 
in Virginia, according to Audubon. 'J’he western 
form reaches as far south as New Mexico and 
Arizona. Full-grown specimens average about thirty- 
five to forty inches in length. 
Two extinct forms are recorded in the chapter on 
Extinct Rodentia; these are interesting, as being re- 
lated to the Old World forms more closely than with 
our present. 
Sub-Order— DUPLICIDEN'l’ATI : 
Leporine Rodents. 
F AMiEY — LE PORIDiE. 
Hares. 
This family is the subject of a Memoir by Mr. 
J. A. Allen, in the work on Rodentia, published 
in connection with Hayden's Reports on Geology 
(1877). As with the other Memoirs, we acknowledge 
their extremely valuable aid in the presentation of 
our work, as it becomes absolutely necessary to make 
extensive abstracts therefrom. The author remarks : 
“ 'I’he present revision of the American Leporidm is 
based upon the material contained in the National 
Museum at Washington, supplemented by that of 
the Museum of Comp. Anatomy at Cambridge. 'I'he 
specimens in the Museum of the Boston Society of 
Natural History have also been examined. The 
author has thus had access not only to the types of 
the species described by Prof. S. F. Baird, in his great 
ci 
work on The Mammals of North America, published 
in 1857, but also to nearly all the material used by 
him in his excellent elaboration of this family in the 
above-named work, together with the vast amount 
of material that has since accumulated at the Smith- 
sonian Institute. * * * As an indication of the 
amount of material used in the preparation of the 
present Memdir, it may be stated that of Lepus 
americanus, and its varieties, the series of skulls 
alone numbers about one hundred and fifteen, which 
is supplemented by about the same number of skins ; 
of Lepus sylvaticus, the skulls number seventy, and 
the skins about one hundred and fifty.” 
'I'he familyZe^wiifu; is represented in both American 
continents, but by far more numbers in the tein|)erate 
parts of North America. One species only reaches 
the Arctic (Lepus timidus), which also ranges around 
the globe in the same latitudes. Lepus braziliensis 
is the only form of Leporidm yet found in any part of 
South America, its range extending from Patagonia 
northward to Central America. It is not anywhere 
abundant. The great interior arid plains furnish the 
greater number of species, four being found there. 
The Hares are regarded as forming one of the most 
“ natural and best-defined groups among mammals.” 
The genus Lagomys is excluded from the present 
exhibit of but is considered their nearest 
ally, there being evidently only a generic difference. 
The lengthened limbs furnish the principal features 
in the characterization of the Hares, with the long- 
ears, short and erect tail. 'J'he skull also presents 
some distinguishing features. The dental formula is 
as follows : Incisors, Canines, o“S > Premolars, 
i-|; Molars, ; = if ; =28. 'I'he molars have 
no roots. 
Leeds. — L'lnn. 
'The characters of the genus are welt presented in 
the description of the family. Mr. Allen presents in 
his Memoir a very careful “analysis of the species 
and varieties.” 
POLAR HARE (Lepus timidus, Linn.) — 'I’his is the 
only species found in the Arctic regions, being an in- 
habitant of the whole Ai-ctic circle. It is pure white 
in winter, with the exception of the tips of the 
ears, which are black. Its summer pelage is a “light 
yellow-brownish-gray, varied with black; ears black ; 
rump and ujiper surface of tail, sooty-plumbeous. 
Ears rather shorter than the head ; the hind-feet 
much longer than the head ; length twenty-two to 
twenty-six inches; weight seven to eleven pounds.” 
'I’he L. variabilis of Pallas, a European form, L. 
hibernicus, and several others of the Old World, are 
regarded as the same species as the ))resent, the 
variations being very slight. It is found as far 
south as Labrador and the northern shore of Groat 
Slave Lake. 
PRAIRIE HARE (Lepus campestris, Bach.) — 'I’his 
has been described as L. variabilis by Lewis ; L. vir- 
ginianus by Harlan and Richardson ; and L. town- 
sendi by Aud. and Bach. In winter it is white, more 
or less tinged with yellowish-brown on the middle of 
the back. In summer it is a yellowish-gray in its 
