. An introduction to the study of mammals living and extinct. Mammals. 492 RODENTIA G-uinea-Pig-like animals, inhabiting chiefly the mountainous parts of Northern Asia (from 11,000 to 14,000 feet), one species only being known from South-East Europe, and another from the Eocky Mountains. The Picas, or Tailless Hares, live in holes among the rocks of their native mountains, and are agile and shy little creatures. The genus is well represented through the upper and middle Tertiaries. It has been proposed to separate those fossil forms with "p as seems scarcely advisable. :, and those with ^
. An introduction to the study of mammals living and extinct. Mammals. 492 RODENTIA G-uinea-Pig-like animals, inhabiting chiefly the mountainous parts of Northern Asia (from 11,000 to 14,000 feet), one species only being known from South-East Europe, and another from the Eocky Mountains. The Picas, or Tailless Hares, live in holes among the rocks of their native mountains, and are agile and shy little creatures. The genus is well represented through the upper and middle Tertiaries. It has been proposed to separate those fossil forms with "p as seems scarcely advisable. :, and those with ^ | as Titanomys, but this Family Lepokid^. Imperfect clavicles, elongated hind limbs, short recurved tail, and long ears. Skull (Fig. 216) com- pressed, frontals with large wing- shaped post-orbital processes ^f; molars as in the Lagomyidce. Cosmopolitan (ex- cept Australasia). Vertebrae: C 7, D 12, L 7, S 4, C IS- IS. Lepus} — The single genus Lepus includes about twenty species, all of which resemble one another in general external characters. In all the fore limbs have five and the hind only four digits, and the soles of the feet are densely clothed with hairs similar to those covering the legs; the inner surface of the cheeks is also hairy. Although the family has such a wide distribution, the greater number of the species are restricted to the Palsearctic and Nearctic regions, only a single species (Z. brasiliensis) extending into South America, where it has existed since the date of the Pleistocene deposits of the Brazilian caves. The Common Hare (L. timidus^) may be taken as a typical example of the genus, and is characterised by the great length of 1 Linn. Syst. Nat. 12th ed. vol. i. p. 77 (1766). 2 From the absence of the Common Hare in Scandinavia it is considered probahle that the name i. timidus was really applied to the Mountain Hare, and some writers accordingly use the name L. europceus for the Fia. 216.—Skull of Hare (Lepus timidus).. Please note th
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