6o 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 tOi 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 pioves 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. 



