LEPUS ^GTPTIUS. 
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Measurements of skulls. 
cJ. Assuan, 
c?. Assuan, 
5. Birket-el- 
W. Desert. 
E. Desert. 
Kerun. 
mm. 
mm. 
mm. 
Greatest length. 
85-5 
90 
85 
breadth. 
40 
40 
415 
Basal length. 
69 
75 
68 
Front of incisors to back of palate. 
33-5 
31-5 
32 
Length of molar series (alveolar). 
14 
15 
16 
Anterior point of zygoma to front of incisors 
Length of snout^ middle line of nasals from 
31-5 
33 
32-5 
central imaginary point. 
Breadth of face outside posterior processes of 
35 
39-5 
36 
premaxillse. 
22 
23-5 
24-5 
Breadth of nasals anteriorly .. 
11-5 
13 
13 
Etienne Geotfroy St.-Hilaire first described the Egyptian hare as a distinct species from 
specimens obtained during the French Scientific Expedition 1798-1802, but unfortunately 
his work was not published for many years afterwards, so that Desmarest gets the 
credit of having named the species. From the description and measurements he 
gave, there can be no doubt that the very long-eared hare, light in form and greyish in 
colour, was the animal that Geotfroy had before him. Since that time very few hares 
from Lower Egypt have found their way into the Museums of Europe, and it was with 
very great surprise that I discovered that three quite distinct species are there 
represented. One would think that it would have been an easy matter to obtain 
such animals as hares from a country so easily accessible; but this was found to he 
far from the case, and although Capt. Flower made considerable efforts to procure 
material, other engagements prevented him from looking after the proper preservation 
of the specimens, so that M'hen they reached this country they were in such poor 
condition that specific identification was impossible. 
The Hon. N. Charles Rothschild offered to help, and with the aid of a native shikari 
specimens were obtained. These, however, were so unlike the description given by 
Geoffrey and Audouin that it was very evident that the true L. wgyptius had still to be 
sought for. Dr. Walter Innes, Bey, then very kindly made efforts to obtain material, 
and to my still greater surprise specimens of a distinct short-eared species arrived, and 
it is not till now (May 1902) that the problem has been solved by further specimens 
from the same contributor. These all arrived in the most perfect state of preservation 
and prove that there are three very distinct species of hares to be found living within 
a short distance of Cairo. It will be highly interesting to know the habits of these 
different species, and it is to be hoped that the publication of this work will encourage 
research and interest in the habits of the animals of the country. 
