134 RODENTS OF IOWA 



in the autumn of 1915. E. W. Nelson of the United States 

 Biological Survey gives the geographical distribution of this Torm 

 as follows : ' ' Great Plains from east 'Central and northern Texas, 

 northeastern New Mexico and north through western half of Indian 

 Territory, all of Oklahoma, extreme southwestern part of Missouri, 

 all of Kansas and Nebraska, except perhaps extreme eastern parts, 

 southwestern Dakota, southeastern Wyoming, and all of Colorado 

 east of Rocky Mountains.'" See also the map on page 132. 



MEARNS' COTTONTAIL RABBIT. COTTONTAIL. 

 GRAY RABBIT. 



Sylvilagus floridamts mearnsi (Allen). 



Lcpus sylvaticus me&rnsi Allen, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., N. Y. 

 VI, 171, 1894 (footnote). 



Description. Color above pale yellowish brown, with an over- 

 lying wash of blackish; sides cf head and body paler; rump dull 

 gray, forming a rather distinct rump patch ; nape tinged with 

 rufous brown or rusty brown; tail above dull brownish tinged 



FIG. 33. Young Cottontail at about the time of leaving nest. Photo from life 



by Prank C. Pellett. 



"'Nelson, "S, W., N. A. Fauna, No. 29, 146, 1909, 



