72 SECOND BIENNIAL BEPORT [W. VA. 



was with a party of hunters in the fall of 1908" that killed three on Bed Run, 

 a tributary of Cranberry river. W. O. Johnson, of Romney, reports that 

 he has seen a number during recent years in Caanan valley, Tucker county. 

 This rabbit is considerably larger than the common cottontails. It is shy 

 and a swift runner so that it escapes both the eye of the hunter and the 

 fleetness of the dog. Reports on its occurrence in different localities are 

 much desired. 



Eastern Cottontail, Sylvilagus floridamis mallurus Thomas. 



The eastern cottontail rabbit is apparently confined, chiefly, in its distribu- 

 tion in West Virginia to the regions east of the Allegheny mountains. The 

 common cottontail of our eastern and southeastern counties probably belongs 

 to this subspecies. It is occasionally found west of the mountains, as Mr. 

 W. E. Nelson, of the Biological Survey, records 9 specimens from Wetzel 

 county (N. A. Fauna No. 29.) There is little doubt that the western part 

 of its range overlaps that of the next subspecies. In addition to the specimens 

 from Wetzel county, Nelson records 8 from Pendleton county and 2 from 

 Greenbrier county. 



Mearn Cottontail, Sylvilagus floridawus inea/rii&i Allen. 



This subspecies is indistinguishable from the one just described except on 

 close examination of a number of specimens representing both. The ears of 

 Mearn 's cottontail are slightly shorter than those of the eastern cottontail, 

 the hindfeet being longer and the upperparts paler and more grayish. Its 

 range in West Virginia, as given by Nelson, is the western part of the % State. 



New England Cottontail, Sylvilagus trcmmtionalis< Bangs. 



A comparatively narrow strip of country extending from Maine south to 

 northern Georgia is the range of this rabbit. In West Virginia it is found 

 chiefly along the Allegheny mountains. The Bureau of Biological Survey has 

 recorded 2 specimens from Travelers Repose and 4 from Greenbrier county. 

 Surber says it is tolerably common throughout the mountain region of the 

 State. 



As compared with the two rabbits last described, this species is of about 

 the same si2e, the ears are smaller, there is a distinct black spot between the 

 ears and more pinkish buffy about the head and sides. There is- also a marked 

 difference in the shape of the skull. It is said to be more of a forest-inhabit- 

 ing species than the others. So nearly do the three resemble each other, 

 however, that the average hunter might bag examples of all and never suspect 

 that he had anything more than ' ' common Tabbits. " 



The ranges of these species and subspecies have never been worked out care- 

 fully for this State. From a scientific standpoint it is desirable that this be 

 done but economically it matters little since the habits of all are very similar 



Panther or Adirondack Cougar, Felis couguar Kerr. 



The panther is believed by many to be extinct within our limits but "there 

 is a probability that a few still exist in our more secluded forests. I have 

 several reports of panthers having been seen in recent years which seem impos- 

 sible to discredit. It must be confessed however, that after tracing down 

 numerous "panther stories" the proof of their presence in the State at this 

 time is not entirely convincing. 



This big cat once roamed through all the forests of West Virginia and fed 



