192 CALIFORNIA MAMMALS. 



flesh, which they will avoid for weeks unless a heavy rain washes 

 the trees. 



The g-ait is a series of hops when moving about leisurely, 

 and long rapid leaps when moving at full speed. Ordinarily they 

 utter no sound, but when caught they make a harsh plaintive cry. 

 The number of young- in a litter is usually three to five ; there are 

 probably two or three litters annually, in spring and summer. 



All our western Wood Hares take refuge more or less in 

 crevices among rocks, but Lhey do' not often burrow in the ground. 

 They rarely sit erect. They are timid creatures and depend on 

 their excellent eyesight and hearing for warning- and their speed 

 or hiding in the brush for safety from pursuit. The Wood Hares 

 are commonly known in the west as "Rabbits" and also as "Cot- 

 tontails," which is a good general name for the group. 



Lepus auduboni arizonse. Allen. (Of Arizona.) 



ARIZONA WOOD-HARE. 



Paler than auduboni, the general effect gray rather than 

 brown ; ears longer and with but littl'e black at tips. 



Length about 355 mm. (14 inches) ; tail vertebrae 50 (2); 

 hind foot 83 (3.25) ; ear from crown 92 (3.60). 



Type locality, Beale Spring, in northwestern Arizona. 



Western and southern Arizona, southern Nevada, California 

 east of the Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino Mountains and 

 northwestern LoA\er California. Frequents the thickets of the 

 valleys and less arid parts of this region. Seldom common. 



Lepus nuttalli Bach man. 



NUTTALL WOOD-HARE. 



Smaller than auduboni; ears shorter; color intermediate be- 

 t\\'een auduboni and arizoux ; skull smaller; rostrum wider in pro- 

 portion and much shorter. 



Length about 335 mm, (13.20 inches); tail vertebrae 47 

 ( 1.85) ; hind foot 85 (3.35) ; ear from crown 80 (3.15), 



