290 University of California Publications ()i Zoology. [Vol. 7 



Distribution. — Cottontails were fairly common all over the 

 desert flat and up to 6500 feet altitude, at least, in the Pine Forest 

 ]\Iountains. Cottontails were seen at Winnemucca, Amos, 

 Quinn River Crossing, Big Creek Ranch, Big Creek Caiion (up 

 to 5800 feet altitude), Alder Creek (to 6000 feet altitude). Alder 

 Creek Ranch, and Leonard Creek (to 6500 feet altitude). These 

 localities are all in Upper Sonoran. Specimens were collected as 

 follows: Quinn River Crossing (-4100 feet), 3; Big Creek Ranch 

 (4350 feet), 5; Big Creek (5000 feet), 1; Virgin Valley (5000 

 feet), 1. 



Habits. — We found cottontails to be much slwer than jack 

 rabbits, nor were they nearly so common. More were observed 

 and secured at Big Creek Ranch than at any other one locality. 

 They were found indiscriminately in the willows along the river, 

 and in the sage at no great distance from it. A cottontail 

 observed at Big Creek Ranch crouched down close to the ground 

 in a clump of willows and remained perfectly cpiiet, apparently 

 seeking to escape observation. While I was hunting on a ridge 

 near the ranch, at an altitude of about 5000 feet, I encountered a 

 couple of Sylvilagus. I had just shot a Sceloporus from a rock. 

 As I went to recover it, a cottontail jumped out and ran toward 

 a bush at some little distance. A young juvenal (no. 8266) was 

 found on another slope. I was able to get within a couple feet 

 of it, for it seemed to ccmsider itself safe while it Avas under a 

 bush, regardless of the hunter's position, and remained stockstill. 

 As soon as it found itself in the open it hurried to seek cover. 



On a number of occasions the animals were seen in pairs. They 

 ranged up to 6500 feet altitude on ))oth the eastern and western 

 slopes of the mountains, being found in the sagebrush and along 

 ridges covered with mountain mahogany. 



A very young male juvenal (no. 8301) was collected in Virgin 

 Valley on JMay 23. Two were secured at Big Cr'eek Ranch June 

 15 and 19, respectively (nos. 8266, 8268). A male taken June 3 

 at Quinn River Crossing is marked "testes large." On the same 

 date individuals of the species were observed mating at tliis 

 locality. Two pi'cgnaut females wci'c ()])1aiiu'(l; uo. 8264. Quiun 

 River Crossing, June 4, containing seven emlu-yos ; and no. 8267, 

 Big Creek Ranch, June 15, containing six embryos. Another, no. 



