. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. NATVR IL mSTOET. ,f***«^-f(' out at an early period. Though the number of species induded in this section is very considerable (abotit fifty, according to Mr. Wallace's estimate), it includes only two families, and each of these contaiiis only a single genus. We will commence with that which includes the best-known forms, the Hares and Rabbits. FAMILY XVII.—LEPORID^ (HARES AND RABBITS). The genei-al appearance of these animals hardly needs to be described, and we may, therefore, indi- cate merely the structural peculiarities wluch serve to
. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. NATVR IL mSTOET. ,f***«^-f(' out at an early period. Though the number of species induded in this section is very considerable (abotit fifty, according to Mr. Wallace's estimate), it includes only two families, and each of these contaiiis only a single genus. We will commence with that which includes the best-known forms, the Hares and Rabbits. FAMILY XVII.—LEPORID^ (HARES AND RABBITS). The genei-al appearance of these animals hardly needs to be described, and we may, therefore, indi- cate merely the structural peculiarities wluch serve to define the family. These consist in the presence of six rootless molars on each side in the upper, and five in the lower jaw {see iigure on p. 82), each molar being divided into lobes by transverse folds of enamel; in tlie compressed form of the skull and the presence of wing-like post-orbital processes of the frontal bones; in the imperfect condition of the clavicles; the greater development of the hind limbs ; and the presence of a short, bushy, upturned tail. The eai's are long ; the inner surface of the cheeks is more or less clothed with short hairs ; the fore-limbs have five, and the huld-limbs only four toes; and the soles of the feet are haiiy throughout. In all these chai-acters, however they may difler in some respects, all the true Hares and Rabbits agree. The representatives of this family occur in nearly all parts of the world, but chiefly in the northern hemisphere, and the few species which pass down within the ti'opics are generally found only in mountainous regions. In the north they reach the Arctic regions in both continents. In the Old World a few species are .scattered over India and Further India, and four or five occur in Africa, but chiefly in the southern part of the continent. In North America the species are numerous, and some of them range southward into Central America; but South America has only a single species, which occurs in the mountains o
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