334 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
patches, scruboaks and old overgrown pastures that have come up to 
sumacs, alders, roses and various shrubs” (Bangs, ’95, p. 412). 
Distribution in New York. The distribution of this form of cottontail 
in New York is very imperfectly understood. The animal probably 
occurs throughout the area occupied by the transition zone in the 
eastern half of the state. Without much question it is rapidly pushing 
its way northward as the heavy forests are removed. 
Principal record. Bachman: ‘‘ About 30 years ago it was not known 
in the neighborhood of Troy, in the state of New York. The northern 
hare was then very abundant. The American hare soon after made its 
appearance in very small numbers and in proportion to its increase the 
former began to grow more scarce. Fora time they continued to be 
found in the same neighborhood, but whether the two species were not 
reconciled to each other, or what is more probable, that the northern 
hare was more hunted than the other, it has become comparatively scarce 
whilst the American hare is exceedingly numerous” (37a, p. 328). 
De Kay: ‘‘It has not a wide geographic range. It is found from New 
Hampshire to Florida but its western limits are not yet established” 
(42, p. 95). Merriam: “The gray rabbit . . . only enters the Adiron- 
dack region along its southern border, in Fulton, Saratoga and Warren 
counties” (84d, p. 213). _Bangs: “ East side of lower Hudson river” 
Cos.) ps 440). Hishem: <]Commony lat iomey sme (joo, pi 195). 
Mearns: “Curiously enough this small rabbit is generally known to the 
residents of the upper Schoharie valley by the name of ‘ Jack rabbit’. 
I was informed by persons who had lived near Kaaterskill junction for 
many years that this rabbit had extended its range upward into the 
cleared lands of the Schoharie valley during recent years” (’98b, p. 345). 
Lepus floridanus mearnsi Allen astern prairie cottontail 
1894 Lepus sylvaticus mearnsi Allen, Am. mus. nat. hist. Bul. 31 May 
Lustovil OB U5/iid 
1895 Lepus sylvaticus mearnsi Bangs, Boston soc. nat. hist. Proc. 26:406. 
1898 Lepus nuttalli mearnsi Thomas, Ann. and Mag. nat. hist. Oct. 
ROS SAH BA Gao 
1899 Lepus floridanus mearnsi Allen, Am. mus. nat. hist. Bul. 4 Mar. 1899. 
1823 § 1023. 
Type locality. Fort Snelling, Minnesota. 
faunal position. ‘Transition and upper austral zone. 
Hlabitat. Prairies and open fields. 
