PRELIMINARY LIST OF THE MAMMALS OF NEW YORK 335 



Distribution in New York. The eastern prairie cottontail probably 

 occurs throughout the western half of New York. The only published 

 record of its presence in the state rests however on two specimens from 

 Peterboro, Madison co (Bangs, '95, p. 406). The animal has undoubt- 

 edly extended its eastward range very rapidly during the past 50 years 

 as the clearing away of the heavy forests has increased the area suited to 

 its needs (Miller, '95a, p. 410). Mr Savage writes that cottontails are 

 common near Buffalo. From measurements which he sends me of six 

 specimens shot at Cherry creek, Chautauqua co. in January 1898, I 

 think there can be no doubt that the form occurring there is Lepus fiori- 

 danus mearnsi. 



Lepus americanus virginianus (Harlan) Southern varying hare 



1825 Lepus virginianus Harlan, Fauna Americana, p. 196. 



1842 Lepus americanus De Kay, Zoology of New York, Mammalia, p. 95. 



I877 [Lepus americanus] var. virginianus Allen, Monogr. N. Am. 



Rodentia. p. 307. 

 1884 Lepus americanus Merriam, Linn. soc. New York. Trans. 2:207. 

 1884 Lepus americanus virginianus Merriam, Linn. soc. New York. 



Trans. 2:211. 

 1898 Lepus americanus virginianus Bangs, Biolog. soc. Washington. 



Proc. 12 : 79. 

 1898 Lepus americanus virginianus Mearns, U. S. Nat. mus. Proc. 



21:346. 



Type locality. Blue mountain of Pennsylvania. 



Faunal position. The southern varying hare is an inhabitant of the 

 boreal zone, penetrating the limits of the transition zone in specially 

 favorable localities only. " That it has a weak hold upon a place in the 

 fauna of the transition z:>ne is shown by the rapidity with which it dis- 

 appears when the conditions that enabled it to exist there are slightly 

 changed " (Bangs, '98, p. 8j). 



Habitat. Damp, cool woods and forests. 



Distribution in New York. This animal occurs throughout the 

 northern part of the state, and in suitable isolated localities farther south 

 where it has not yet been exterminated. It is one of the species whose 

 range has been greatly restricted by the clearing away of the heavy forests. 



Principal records. De Kay: " It occurs in most parts of the state and 

 is often called the white rabbit. In the winter the markets of New York 

 are abundantly supplied with this species from the Kaaterskill and 

 Shawangunk (Shongo) mountains " ('42, p. 96). Merriam : " The 

 northern hare is found in greater or less abundance in most parts of the 

 Adirondacks" ('84d, p. 207). Mearns: "This hare is abundant on the 



