62 ANIMAL LIFE OF CARLSBAD CAVERN 



ing a loss of about 75 per cent by weight of water. Its 

 bladder was distended with fluid from the excess mois- 

 ture of its food above the little carried away by the 

 relatively dry pellets. This faculty of extracting mois- 

 ture from their food readily explains the ability of 

 these animals to exist in arid regions at long dis- 

 tances from water, and actually to live their whole 

 lives without ever drinking water. They are one of 

 the many species of rodents thus perfectly adapted to 

 desert life. 



This large jack rabbit is recognized by its very long 

 legs and ears, its general light gray color, and black 

 upper surface of the tail. 



SMALL COTTONTAIL 



Sylvilagus auduboni minor {Fig. 19) 



These little cottontail rabbits live all over the Pecos 

 Valley and on the limestone ridges about the Carlsbad 

 Cavern. They are most numerous close to the cave 

 buildings, where coyotes are kept away by the presence 

 of people and dogs, and where safe shelter is found in 

 the rocks on the canyon sides. No cats were kept at 

 the cave camp, and the one little yellow dog did not 

 chase rabbits and would not have killed a mouse, but 

 he barked at night and probably helped to keep away 

 coyotes and other animals. These rabbits are also 

 abundant in the prairie-dog towns of the valley below, 

 living in the burrows and keeping as close to these 

 underground strongholds as do the prairie-dogs, and 

 seeking them as promptly when danger threatens. 



