COTTONTAIL 



mark that cannot fail to be recognized. There are members 

 of this genus which do not have tails pure white below, but 

 these Rabbits are referred to here as Brush Rabbits or Swamp 

 Rabbits, although they may be known locally as Cottontails 

 where no "real" Cottontail occurs. 



This animal is, no doubt, the most popular of all our small 

 game mammals, and it is a favorite with hunters ranging from 

 small boys to experienced sportsmen. It is the proud bag of 

 the boy's first kill and the stop-gap of the disappointed bird- 

 hunter. In spite of this army, the Cottontail is remarkably 

 successful in most regions and holds its own with a minimum 

 of encouragement. In many regions of the West it flourishes 

 in spite of open seasons the year around, and may become an 

 economic pest, although not to the same extent as the Jack 

 Rabbits. 



In forested regions, Cottontail Rabbits frequent open 

 brushy areas among the trees, coming out to feed in the late 

 afternoon or early morning about the edges of fields or mea- 

 dows. They are seldom seen in heavy stands of trees where 

 there is no underbrush or an occasional glade. In the plains 

 districts the Cottontails may be anywhere, but are commonest, 

 of course, where green vegetation affords them the most 

 abundant food. 



The Pacific Coast Brush Rabbits are very similiar to the 

 Cottontails in habits although, as their name would suggest, 

 they are less often encountered in the open and prefer a heavy- 

 brush locality. The Swamp Rabbits are so named because of 

 a preference for a more specialized habitat and are found in 

 the swampy or marshy districts in the southeastern United 

 States, These Rabbits may be encountered, either more or 

 less in the swamps or on higher ground between the sunken 

 areas. 



Cottontails are very prolific and, in the warmer parts of 

 their range, young animals may be found during any month of 

 the year. Farther to the north the rearing of young is sus- 

 pended during the winter months, but several broods a year 

 is the general habit for this genus. Young Cottontails are 

 able to take good care of themselves at an early age and are 

 almost as difficult to run down and catch as the adults. The 

 number of young in a litter varies from three to seven, with 

 four as an average number. 



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