132 



RODENTS OF IOWA 



Sciences for 1888, Professor Herbert Osborn lists one specimen 

 taken at Ames. In a later paper, "A Partial Catalogue of the 

 Animals of Iowa" (1891), he again mentions this form and says, 

 "Becoming common in some of the northern counties." Professor 

 C. C. Nutting in his paper, "Report of the Committee on State 



FIG. 32. Map showing locality records of 



1. White-tailed Jack Rabbit (Lepus townsendi campanius) . 



2. Great Plains Jack Rabbit (Lepus californicus melanotis) . 



Fauna" 33 says, "this species is slowly working its way south. Last 

 year it was reported by Prof. Witter from Muscatine county and 

 during the past fall a specimen was killed in Johnson county, and 

 is now in .the State University Museum." Three other specimens 

 are in the State University Museum; an adult mounted specimen 

 taken at Iowa City January 19, 1895, and two immature specimens 

 taken in Emmett county in 1897. M. X. Geske of McGregor in- 

 forms the writer that this species is coming into that locality 

 and that the numbers have been on the increase during the past 

 twelve years. At Creston, Ottumwa, and Chariton the species is 

 reported as rare. Mr. Gwynn, manager of the Welch Nursery at 

 Shenandoah, informs me that three specimens were taken at that 

 place during the winter of 1914. In practically all the northern 

 counties reports indicate that the jack rabbit is becoming more 

 abundant and is increasing its distribution to the east and south. 

 At Decorah it is reported to have come in only during the past 



"sproc. la. Acad. Sci. Vol. I, part III, 40, 1892. 



