62 



NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION 



that of the birds may be seen in Plate X, figures 1, 2, 3, 4, which show 

 the scutella of the feet grown into curved, over-lapping, horny ex- 

 crescences, so crowded together as to render the toes jjartially immov- 

 able, and preventing them from touching the ground in the customary 

 way. This leads at once to an abnoi-mal growth and consequent distor- 

 tion of the claws. The feet thus altered and enlarged are impediments 

 indeed, adding to the weight of the bird in flight, hindering freedom 

 of movement when upon the ground in search of food, or when attempt- 

 ing to perch upon boughs, and obviously being greatly in the way upon 

 the nest. It is to be doubted if incubation is possible in such cases. 

 Judging from cases reported, Kearney and Buffalo Counties are about 



the center of the affected district. It 

 seems more than a coincidence that 

 this is also the region where the so- 

 called "horned" rabbits are common- 

 est. Hunters in these counties often 

 report that in certain j^ears four out 

 of five rabbits must be thrown away 

 because of the prevalence of "horns" 

 generally growing about the mouth 

 and nose, but occasionally upon the 

 limbs. According to the hvmters, the 

 affliction is so common in certain 

 years that it seems to be universal, 

 and it is repeatedly stated that hun- 

 dreds are shot to be rejected. They 

 are almost invariably more or less 

 emaciated and ill-conditioned crea- 

 tures generally. The excrescences, 

 which resemble veritable horns, are 

 black in color, firm, though fibrous, 

 in texture, and in shape exactlj'^ like 

 a miniature horn a couple of inches 

 long. The firmness of texture is such 

 that the horns are capable of taking 

 a polish like true horn. They ai'e 

 strictly dermal, and when the skin 

 is fresh a small slightly irritated and 

 inflamed patch may be seen encir- 

 cling the base of each cornu. The 

 cornua are often so crowded togethei; 

 Head of "horned" rab})it. around the nose and mouth that 



one fails to see how the unfortunate victim ever obtained the food nec- 

 essary for bare subsistence. A number of such examples have been re- 

 ceived by the State Museum during the past five or six years, some of 

 them being mounted, while others are preserved in alcohol. 



