RODENTIA—LEPORIDAE-LEPUS CAMPESTRIS. 
585 
List of specimens. 
"■ Width of ear 1.70. 
LEPUS CAMPESTRIS, Bach. 
Prairie Hare. 
Lepus campestris, Bach., J. A. N. Sc. Phila. VII, n, 1837, 349.— Ib. VIII, i, 1839, 80. 
Waterhouse, N. H. Mamm. II, 1848, 127. 
Giebel, Saugt, 1855, 449. 
Lepus townsendii, Bachman, J. A. N. Sc. Phila. VIII, i, 90 ; pi. ii. 
Townsend’s Narr., 1839, 325. 
Aud. & Bach. N. Am. Quad. I, 184Q, 25. ; pi. iii. 
Lepus virginianus, Rich. F. B. Am. I, 1829, 224. 
Pr. Max. Reise, I, 1839, 508. 
Lepus virginianus, var. Harlan, F. Amer. 1825, 310. 
Sp. Ch.—L arger than Lepus americanus Ears about one-fifth longer than the head. Fur soft and full, especially in 
winter. Tail as long as the head. Hind feet considerably longer than the head ; somewhat longer than the ears. 
In summer, back, rump, sides of limbs, external and internal bands of the ear, and the throat, yellowish gray, varied more 
or less with brown. Beneath white. Tail entirely white, above and below ; in some specimens only with a faint wash of ash 
above. Nape and interior surface of ears white, except as stated ; the latter tipped with black. 
In winter, pure white all over, with a yellowish tinge. Ears white, tipped with biown ; the external and internal bands rusty 
gray. Fur on the ears and elsewhere much longer and fuller than in summer. Fur on the upper part and sides pure white on 
the basal half 
This species is among the largest of the North American hares, and is characterized essentially 
among those with ears considerably longer than the head, by having no black or even dusky 
on the upper part of the tail and the rump. As far as known, too, it is the only one of the 
very long eared hares in which the fur becomes white in winter. The ears are not quite so 
long, however, as in the L. californicus and callotis. The summer fur is full and soft; the 
winter still more so, being quite valuable as an article of commerce. The tail is very long. 
The legs are long and stout, well furred beneath. The ears are about one-fifth longer than 
the head. 
Summer pelage. The general color of the upper parts of the body and the buttocks is a pale 
yellowish gray, mixed with a dark brown, the former predominating. The hairs are light ash 
at the base, turning gradually into pale reddish or rusty gray, and finally, tipped for a slight 
extent with darker brown or black. There are numerous longer hairs interspersed, which are 
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