OTHER ANIMALS 669 



they desert their usual food and establish themselves near the garden 

 or cultivated field. They thus become particularly destructive in the 

 fertile areas. As jack rabbits multiply rapidly they often become 

 great pests. They have comparatively few natural enemies, and if 

 not held in check by other agencies would doubtless over-run the 

 country. 



Breeding Habits. The breeding habits of the various jack rab- 

 bits in many respects are much like those of the Old World hares and 

 rabbits. Compared with the domesticated rabbit, the jack rabbit does 

 not increase very rapidly. The number of young at a birth varies 

 from one to six ; the average probably is between three and tour. It 

 is almost impossible to determine the exact date of birth, unless the 

 animals are kept in captivity, but the time can be estimated approxi- 

 mately. The period of gestation is about thirty days. It may be as- 

 sumed that jack rabbits attain their full size in about two months. 

 Drives or hunts organized for the extermination of rabbits should 

 take place before the beginning of the breeding season, as just after 

 the young are born the rabbit population in any given place may be 

 several times what it was six weeks previous. Drives in Southern 

 California should therefore be made in December, January and Feb- 

 ruary ; in Colorado and Utah hunts made before the 1st of February 

 will accomplish much more than those made in April. In Idaho they 

 may be postponed somewhat later with equally as good results. 



Jack rabbits may be used for coursing, for their skins, or for 

 food. The United States imports annually millions of rabbit skins 

 for felt and other purposes. The skins of jack rabbits could prob- 

 al.lv be used for many purposes for which the cheaper grades of im- 

 ported skins are now utilized, and could be collected so cheaply as to 

 leave a margin of profit. 



The consumption of jack rabbits for food in some winters has 

 been estimated at 500,000. This game can be obtained in consider- 

 able quantities on the plains and on the deserts of the Great Basin, 

 and may be profitably shipped to Eastern markets to the mutual ben- 

 efit of the fanner and the consumer. Jack rabbits usually bring from 

 75 cents to $3 per dozen. In extreme cases they sometimes bring $1 

 to $1.50 per pair. (Dep. Agr. Div. Biol. Sur. B. 8.) 



RABBITS. 



The American farmer suffers severe losses from the depredations 

 of rodents, from insect pests and fungous diseases. Because of their 

 wide distribution and great abundance, rabbits hold a prominent 

 place among rodent pests. They are larger than rats and mice and 

 almost as prolific, and under some circumstances inflict greater dam- 

 ages to crops and trees, even greater than that caused by field mice. 



Distribution of Rabbits. Rabbits are so widely distribute} 

 throughout the United States that nearly all cultivated districts con- 

 tain one or more species. They also occur in the mountains and des- 

 erts remote from agriculture. In all about 30 sji.-cics inhabit North 

 America. 



The Common Gray Rabbit or Cottontail. This species occurs 

 from the southern parts of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont 



