MAMMALS OF THE REGION 61 



mouth of the cave, and rabbits undoubtedly formed no 

 small part of the meat supply of the aborigines who 

 formerly inhabited the cave and the adjacent region. 

 Over the valley country they are the most conspicuous 

 animals, half a dozen being often seen from one point 

 as they feed on the tender growth of early spring vege- 

 tation, sit in the shade of desert bushes, or go loping 

 away from the roadside. Two or three dozen were 

 usually seen on a trip from the cave to Carlsbad, a 

 distance of twenty-six miles, but most of these were in 

 two or three low basins where vegetation was getting 

 an early start. Out over the dry flats and ridges only 

 an occasional rabbit was seen, and their total numbers 

 would probably not average more than three to a 

 square mile of the valley country. In this scattering 

 and about normal abundance they are of little economic 

 importance and may prove an asset rather than a lia- 

 bility, for they help to feed the coyotes, eagles, hawks, 

 and owls and thus prevent more serious depredations 

 on live stock and game. The grass and weeds eaten 

 by the rabbits are mainly good stock food, and a con- 

 siderable increase in the number of rabbits would 

 seriously impair the grazing capacity of these arid 

 valleys. 



One full-grown, old male jack rabbit, shot for ex- 

 amination, weighed 6^ pounds, and measured in total 

 length 600 millimeters; tail vertebrae, 70 mm.; hind 

 foot, 133 mm.; and ears from crown to tip, 160 mm. 

 This was an average and not an extremely large animal. 

 The contents of its stomach, half full of green food, 

 weighed 59 grams, and when air-dried 15 grams, show- 



