834 
MISCELLANY. 
the external characters of the Irish and Common Hares. His account will be 
found in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society for July 23, 1833, since which 
time Mr. Bell, in his History of British Quadrupeds^ has described both of 
them, characterizing the Irish Hare under the name of Lepus Hibernicus. I am 
not, however, aware that any observations on the anatomical distinctions of the 
two species have been made public. With a view, therefore, of filling up the 
blank to a certain degree, this paper is written. 
On placing the skeletons of the two species in juxtaposition, the most obvious 
distinguishing characters are, the greater size altogether of the skeleton, the 
greater length 'of the lateral processes of the lumbar vertebrae, the superior 
breadth of the scapula, the greater breadth of the ribs, the greater length of the 
humerus in proportion to that of the ulna (which is scarcely longer than in the 
Common Hare), together with the much larger size of the cranium and inferior 
maxillary bones in the Irish Hare. These differences would probably distinguish it 
as a species distinct from the Common Hare did no other characters exist. 
In the numbering of the vertebrae and ribs they do not differ, except as to the 
caudal ones, which in the Irish Hare are 13, and in the English 16; the sacral 
in both are 4, the lumbar 7, the dorsal 12, and the cervical 7, making the total 
number in the Irish Hare 43, and in the Common Hare 46. 
The ribs in each species are 12. The males of both species are smaller than 
the females in all their admeasurements. The intestinal canal is in the male of 
the Irish Hare nearly two feet shorter than in the female. —Thomas Campbell 
Eyton, Esq., of Byton Castle^ near Shrewsburyy in the Mag. of Zool. and 
Bot.^ Vol. //., p. 283. 
Notes on the Thrushes {Turdus., Antiq,). —-About the end of November 
large flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing Thrushes may often be seen intermixed. 
They generally frequent hedges abounding with hips, haws, and other berries, 
and are particularly partial to large trees growing out of hedgerows. They 
admit of a near approach,* the whole flock sometimes passing directly over your 
head. They seldom quit the trees simultaneously (unless unusually alarmed), but 
more generally in straggling companies, the Fieldfares being readily distinguished 
by their superior length, chattering note, and less even flight. With regard 
to the latter particular, it may be observed, that there is a gradation in the 
regularity of the flight of the genus, from the Missel Thrush, in which it is 
extremely loose and irregular, to the Garden Thrush, which bears a more inti¬ 
mate resemblance, in this respect, to the neighbouring species of the Sylviadce. 
* It is to be observed that all birds^even those most persecuted by man—admit of a nearer 
approach, juaniMs, on horseback than on foot. If, however, birds of any species are fre¬ 
quently shot by horsenien, of course they soon become comparatively shy of equestrians too.—E d. 
