60 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 
into the truck patches and young orchards, he is a harmless crea- 
ture; innocent and timid, ever on the alert and almost paralyzed 
with fear when cornered, he seems to ask our protection, rather 
than incite us to slaughter. But Br’er Rabbitt’ has too long been 
a table delicacy with certain classes to remove him from the list 
of game animals, and with such protection, no doubt, he would 
increase so rapidly as to become a serious nuisance. Even as it 
is, he seems sufficiently prolific to hold his own, in spite of his 
numerous enemies. 
The nests in which the young rabbits are placed as soon as 
born are mere hollows in the ground copiously lined and covered 
with fur from the parent. They are frequently situated in hay 
or grain fields and are brought to light by the mowing machine, 
not infrequently with murderous results. The little rabbits are 
blind at first and remain for some time in their warm nest, vis- 
ited and suckled by the parent until able to shift for themselves. 
Rabbits have regular haunts and travel regularly the same 
route or path, be it winter or summer, when started from their 
form or resting place—a habit that not infrequently proves fatal 
to them, as their paths once learned, the enemy has but to lay in 
wait till his quarry appears. When bounding away in full flight 
the underside of the upturned tail forms a conspicuous white 
spot bobbing up and down, and doubtless of some distinct benefit 
to the rabbit himself, though attempts to explain just what it is 
seem to vary. 
Lepus sylvaticus Abbott, Cook’s Geol. of N. J., 1868, p. 759.— 
Abbott, A. Naturalist’s Rambles, 1885, p. 451. 
Lepus nanus Beesley, Geol. Cape May Co., 1857, p. 137. 
Lepus floridanus mallurus Rhoads, Mam. Pa. & N. J., 1903, 
p. 122: 
Lepus transitionalis (Bangs). 
Northern Cottontail. 
Size and general appearance similar to the common cottontail, 
but more brightly colored with long, black hairs on the back, black 
borders to the ears and spot between the ears very distinct. 
