FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



Mexico from about 7,500 to over 10,000 feet; zonal range 

 mainly Transition and lower edge of Canadian, moving down 

 in winter to border of Upper Sonoran Zone." (Nelson) 



Auduboni Group — Western Cottontails 



Sacramento Valley Cottontail. — Syhilagus auduboni auduboni 

 _ (Baird). 

 Size large; tail large. Total length, 16-17 inches; tail verte- 

 brae, 2.9 inches; hind foot, 3.5 inches; ear from notch, 2.4 

 inches. Upperparts dark ochraceous buffy brown, heavily 

 washed with black on back ; sides grayer and with less black ; 

 ears grayish inside, brownish outside; nape bright rusty; 

 legs buffy to rufous; tops of hind feet white; tail brownish 

 like back above, clear white below; underparts clear white, 

 throat brownish buff. Found in "Interior of north-central 

 California from Red Bluff in Sacramento Valley south in 

 suitable localities in valley and foothills to north end of San 

 Joaquin Valley (Chinese Camp on the east and Los Banos 

 on the west), and reaching the coast along the east and 

 south sides of San Francisco Bay, and thence south through 

 the adjacent Santa Clara Valley. Vertical range from sea 

 level at San Francisco Bay up to about 4,000 feet on west 

 slope of Sierra Nevada; zonal range mainly semiarid Upper 

 Sonoran." (Nelson) 



San Joaquin Cottontail. — Syhilagus auduboni vallicola Nelson. 

 Resembling typical auduborii in size but ears larger, color 

 paler and yellower. Upperparts dull yellowish-buffy brown ; 

 rump grayish; nape pale ochraceous buff. Total length, 16 

 inches; tail vertebras, 2.2 inches; hind foot, 3.6 inches; ear 

 from notch, 2.8 inches. Found in ' 'Hot, arid parts of central- 

 interior California in Salinas, Upper Cuyama, and San 

 Joaquin valleys; north to beyond Raymond and south to 

 Walker and Tejon passes. Not found west of the outer 

 Coast Range. Vertical range from about 250 feet in 

 bottom of San Joaquin Valley to 4,500 feet altitude on 

 western slope of Sierra Nevada; zonal range mainly Lower 

 Sonoran, but extending into Upper Sonoran." (Nelson) 



San Diego Cottontail. — Syhilagus auduboni sanctidiegi (Miller) 

 Most like typical auduboni, but paler on sides and generally 

 with a grayish rump patch. Upperparts ochraceous buffy 

 brown, with grayer shoulders and sides; forelegs paler (dull 

 rusty rufous) than in typical auduboni. Total length, 16 

 inches; tail vertebras, 2.6 inches; hind foot, 3.6 inches; ear 

 from notch, 2.8 inches. Found in "Southern California 

 west of the mountains from the southern half of Ventura 

 County to the Mexican border .... Vertical range from 

 sea level at San Diego up to over 4,000 feet altitude on 

 mountains to the east; zonal range mainly Upper Sonoran." 

 (Nelson) 



500 I 



