MAMMALS OF PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY. 12 1 



tail, being hard, dry and juiceless. Bachman says they never retreat, when 

 pursued, to holes or burrows. When snow is deep its large feet support it so 

 that it can escape dogs as if provided with snowshoes, hence one of its 

 popular names. It does not forage in open fields or country, hence is not 

 destructive to crops, however common. They have 2 Htters of 4 to 6 each 

 yearly, born in May and July or August. They prefer coniferous to decidu- 

 ous woods. 



Description of species. — This animal, like the weasel, turns more or less 

 white in winter. In the transition zone it rarely becomes much white, some 

 individuals changing but slightly from their summer color. The dispute 

 regarding the method by which this color change is accomplished has been 

 often settled, but by no one more conclusively than by Dr. J. A. Allen, in the 

 Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, in which he proves 

 that the summer and winter coats, whatever their colors may be, are acquired, 

 and the color also, by the molt which regularly occurs in spring and fall. 

 The animal has no power to change the color after the new hair begins to 

 grow, but the disposition and physical condition of the animal, the climate in 

 which it lives and other mysterious effects of its environment, determine the 

 amount of white which shall be acquired in any given place and at any sea- 

 son. Undoubtedly this turning white in winter is primarily intended as a 

 protective measure for the existence of the species during the season of 

 snows, great cold and increased activity of beasts of prey. 



The AUeghanian hare is larger, and longer by two inches, than the cotton- 

 tail hare of the same regions. Its most distinguishing features are color and 

 the great size of the hind foot. In winter the two are readily separated ; in 

 summer the larger species is bright rusty brown, with ears dusky at the tip 

 and bordered with whitish, while the cottontail is wood-brown or yellowish- 

 brown mixed with black hairs above, and has plain brownish ears. 



Measurements. — Total length, 485 mm. (19); tail, 50 (12); hind foot, 

 140 (5J^). 



Specimens examined. — From following Pa. counties : Blair Co., i. Clinton 

 Co., 6. Clearfield Co., 2. Lackawanna Co., 2. Luzerne Co., i. Potter 

 Co., 2. Sullivan Co., 4. Tioga Co., i. 



Alleghenian Cottontail or Rabbit. Lepus floridanus transitionaas 

 (Bangs). 



1895. Lepus sylvaticus transitionalis Bangs, Proceedings Boston Society 

 Natural History, vol. 26, p. 405. 



1899. Lepus floridanus transitiona/is Allen, Bulletin American Museum 

 Natural History, vol. 12, p. 13. 



Type locality. — Liberty Hill, New London Co., Connecticut. 



