THE MAMMALS OF NEW JERSEY. 59 



Family LEPORID-ffi:. 



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 Leporidce 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 Linnaeus. 



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 



