THE MAMMALS OF NEW JERSEY. 59 
Family LEPORIDZ. 
RABBITS AND HARES. 
The chief characteristics of the rabbit family are the elongated 
hind legs with the resultant jumping gait, the long ears, and the 
short upturned tail. In cranial structure the peculiarity of the 
rabbits and hares lies in the presence of two rudimentary incisor 
teeth back of the large ones in the upper jaw, something that is 
not found in any other rodent. ‘The true rabbit is the European 
species, the ancestor of the various domesticated breeds, which is 
a burrowing animal, and has no counterpart in America. Our 
species are properly speaking hares which make their nests on 
the surface of the ground and do not burrow. 
We have but one genus of Leporide in North America, and 
but three native species in New Jersey. The Belgian Hare, how- 
ever, has escaped from preserves here and there and may soon 
have claims as good as those of the house rat and mouse to 
be included in our fauna, 
Genus Lepus Linnzeus. 
Lepus floridanus mallurus (Thomas). 
The Cottontail. 
PLATE 16. 
Length, 17 inches. Color mixed brown, cinnamon and russet, 
grayer on the rump; ears with dusky edgings and an indistinct 
dusky spot between them; white below, with a brown band 
across the breast, lower surface of the tail snow white. 
The Common Rabbit, or Cottontail, is one of the most familiar 
of our native animals; mercilessly hunted by sportsmen of all 
grades and the prey of rapacious animals, his existence is pre- 
carious wherever he may select his home. Except for his inroads 
