6.)

Total length, 363-664; tail, 25-112; hind foot, 112-189; ear from notch
(dry), 62-144. Upper parts grayish, brownish or black; interparietal
bone fused to surrounding bones; cervical vertabrae long, 2nd and 3rd
being longer than wide; transverse processes of lumbar vertabrae long,
the longest one equal to the length of the centrum to which it is
attached plus half of the length of the preceding centrum; free
extremity of transverse process of lumbar vertebra considerably
expanded; distance from anterior edge of acetabulum to extreme anterior
point of ilium less than distance from former point to most distant
point of ischium; ulna reduced in size along middle part of shaft, and,
excepting the lower extremity, placed almost entirely behind radius.

All members of the genus _Lepus_ are technically hares, as these are
defined in the account of the family Leporidae. The largest members of
the order Lagomorpha are members of the genus _Lepus_. No domestic
strains have been developed but effort in this direction might be
profitable, in as much as the so-called Belgian hares of the related
genus, _Oryctolagus_, have done well in captivity.

In the past it has been customary to recognize two or more subgenera of
the genus _Lepus_. The species are a less diverse lot than those in
some other genera, however, and it seems that no useful purpose is
served by recognizing subgenera. Accordingly, the several names proposed
for this purpose are arranged here as synonyms of the generic name
_Lepus_ Linnaeus.

The introduction of the European Hare (_Lepus europaeus_) into the
eastern part of the North American Continent has been successful in the
sense that the animal is multiplying. If it continues to increase, the
increase almost certainly will be at the expense of some native species
of rabbit. This circumstance and the unfortunate consequences of the
introduction of the European rabbit (_Oryctolagus cuniculus_) in New
Zealand (see Wodzicki, 1950:107-141) and Australia (see Stead,
1925:355-358) give basis for effort to exterminate the alien species
before it spreads more widely.

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF THE GENUS LEPUS

1. North of 34[deg] N latitude.

2. All white pelage (tips of ears sometimes black).

3. North of line from Port Simpson, British Columbia, to Halifax,
Nova Scotia.

4. Basilar length of skull more than 67; ear from notch usually
more than 73 dry (77 fresh); f