FAMILY OF HARES AND RABBITS 



289 



The Cottontail or Gray Rabbit, is a smaller 

 animal than the Hare, and has, as a rule, shorter 

 ears and shorter and weaker legs. ]Most of the 

 species make use of burrows, openings in and 

 under rocks, the abandoned homes of other 

 mammals, or, if no dogs are about to chase 

 them, a hole under a house or other building. 

 Their color enables them to lie undetected in a 

 tuft of overhanging grass, or a bunch of briers 

 or bushes. In parts of Texas they live among 

 the big bunches of prickly pears, seeming to 

 ignore the' presence of thorns in and along their 

 trails. One of their favorite resorts for a mid- 

 day nap is in or among the big flat pads of a 

 prickly pear, where they will stick to their form 

 until fairly forced out. The Long-eared or Ari- 

 zona Cottontails make use of Prairie Dog holes 

 to such an extent that the ranchmen call them 

 " Prairie-dog Rabbit;;." 



The Cottontail is one of the most familiar 

 objects of our open fields. As the passer-by on 

 a casual stroll comes too near its retreat, away it 

 will scurry, its short, white stump of a tail wav- 

 ing defiance — or, more likely, it is the white flag 

 of truce — for they are at heart timorous 

 creatures. \Mien captured, they will submit to 

 half-taming, but always w'th a weather eye open 



to a means of escape. When placed in a cage 

 they do not eat proffered food while their captor 

 is present, but will remain stock-still for 

 minutes, perhaps hours, at a time. 



Phijtograph in- H. E. Anthcni' 



NUTTALL'S COTTONTAIL 

 This is a northwestern species, small in size and of pale color 





Photograph by H. E. .\ntl 



FLORIDA COTTONTAIL 

 The Cottontail, or Gray Rabbit, is a smaller animal than the Hare 



